The Land Snails. Helices 



bird breaks the shell by repeated strokes upon a stone ; particular 

 stones are selected and resorted to regularly, as is proved by the 

 heaps of broken shells around them. 



The Roman, or Apple Snail (//. Pomatia, Linn.) of Europe 

 stands preeminent among the multitude of species in Helix. 

 It is typical of the whole genus, though in size and ornamentation 

 the tropical species far excel it. Oriental and Latin races have 

 brought it to this country, and successfully established it in 

 various places, notably about New Orleans where the French 

 cultivate it as a commercial shell fish. It is a common thing 

 to see foreigners eagerly buying these plump snails by the quart 

 on Saturday night at the heterogeneous push-cart and curb- 

 stone markets that stretch away for many squares in the poorer 

 sections of New York. 



It is somewhat hard to resist buying these clean plump snails, 

 they truly look inviting. They have a neatness of exterior not 

 emulated by all of their kin. A creamy ground colour is decorated 

 with three to five pale brown bands. There is a deep umbilical 

 pit. The shell is globose or cone-shaped, of four or five rapidly 

 widening whorls; the lip is thin, with reflexed edges; the 

 columella long and concave. The foot is wide and fleshy, the 

 mantle margin lobed; the head blunt with prominent stalked 

 eyes. The average height and diameter are ij to 2 inches. 

 Yet we must expect a mollusk of such cosmopolitan distribution 

 and such powers of adaptation to new conditions to exhibit 

 great range of variation. 



This snail has long been studied by conchologists, amateur 

 and professional, and the reports of their investigations form 

 a considerable body of literature. A great degree of intelligence 

 is ascribed to it, including the homing instinct, which enables 

 it to forage widely and return after each excursion to one "home" 

 spot. Darwin reported that a pair of Roman snails, one of which 

 was feeble, was placed in a small garden where food supply was 

 scant. The stronger one set out alone, and found good pasture 

 in the adjoining garden. The next day it returned and together 

 the pair went over the wall where plenty abounded. The slimy 

 trail of snails is probably their means of returning after a night's 

 foraging by the same route that led them forth. 



The senses of sight, smell and hearing are well developed. 

 Snails kept as pets wander about curiously examining everything 



258 



