OF NEW ENGLAND. 187 
This species has been found in the greatest abundance 
on certain islands on the coast of Maine, and also on the 
lower parts of Cape Cod and Cape Ann, ‘as well as in 
Canada and Nova Scotia. It is unquestionably identical 
with the European species, and is supposed to have found 
its way to this country through commercial intercourse, 
though it seems strange that, while in the old country 
it is found near the habitations of men, in this country it 
occurs only upon the most uninhabitable islands. 
In England, this species is very abundant, and forms a 
favorite food for the thrushes and blackbirds. Ralph 
Tate, the author of a very readable book on the land and 
fresh-water mollusks of Great Britain, says: “In a coun- 
try walk one may frequently see a large stone surrounded 
by fractured snail-shells; these are the slaughtering- 
blocks whereon the poor snail is sacrificed for the wel- 
fare of our songsters and their young progenies. The 
shells are very systematically broken. The bird strikes 
the shell upon the stone in such a position as to expose 
the principal mass of the snail at about the commence- 
ment of the last whorl.” In France, this species is used 
as an article of food. 
ALTERNATA Say. (Figs. 17, 18.) Shell flat- 
tened, heavily striated ; light horn-color, 
with dark brown bands and spots arranged 
obliquely across the whorls. Aperture, 
when viewed from below, nearly circular. 
Lip simple and sharp. Whorls six in full- 
grown shells.: In young specimens the 
Shell is carinated, that is, the outer whorl 
is keeled or angulated, instead of round- 
The base of the shell is lighter in 
color than the upper surface. Colorless shells are some- 
times found. Diameter about one inch. 
