36o 



Marvels of the Universe 



on the approach of winter the snail forms a thick calcareous covering over the opening of the shell, 

 both to keep out the cold and as a defence against the attacks of beetles and other enemies. 



The value of this snail as food is patent to anyone who wanders through the markets on the 

 Continent, where the gathering of the snails and fattening them in " snail-farms " forms an im- 

 portant industry. In certain districts they are fattened on vine-leaves and are known as \'inc 

 Snails. At one of these farms in Switzerland as many as eighty thousand are fattened annually ; 

 their wholesale price varies from ten to seventeen francs per thousand according to their quality. 

 The Roman Catholic Church permits their use as food during Lent, in which season Paris alone is 



One of the huge Agate Snails of Afric 

 several of tlie warmer parts of the world. The one showi 

 this country. Their eggs are as large as those of pigeons 



A MONSTER SNAIL. 



They are the largest land-snails known, and different species of them are found in 



is a native of Nigeria, whence li' 



specimens have been brought to 



said to consume fift^' tons dail}' ! In fact, the increase in the consumption of this snail caused a 

 necessary restriction for fear of its extinction, and the authorities of Cote d'Or, in France, have 

 established a close season from April 15 to July 15. The Continental export trade extends to both 

 North and South America ; indeed, in Buenos Ayres the species is now firmly established. Their 

 import to this country also is considerable, one hundred thousand being consumed annually in 

 London, where they are utilized extensively in thickening certain soups and in giving a glaze to 

 various kinds of pastry. 



It is our British custom to decry as " foreign messes " many really excellent Continental dishes ; 

 though why prejudice should extend to this most nutritious mollusc, while the indigestible whelk 

 and the dubiously wholesome mussel are tolerated, is hard to understand. 



