The Common Snail. 37 



and the French at the present day their escargo- 

 toires, or Snailery, for the same purpose ; some of 

 the Snails so kept attain an immense size, as well 

 they may if fed, as by the Komans, on new wine 

 and meal. Many poor persons, especially those 

 who are consumptive, might no doubt derive much 

 cheap sustenance and benefit from using the larger 

 species of Helicidce, which might be collected from 

 hedges and gardens as food. Why should they 

 not eat those as well as the marine mollusks, such 

 as Oysters, Cockles, Whelks, etc. ? 



Snails have an extraordinary power of re-pro- 

 ducing any part which may be injured or cut off, 

 even to the extent of the whole head, as has been 

 observed to be the case ; the reparation of injury 

 done to the shell they can effect easily, as can all 

 testaceous mollusks. Eespecting the construction 

 of the shell, it may be observed that it is produced 

 in the thickness of the mantle, or cloak-like covering, 

 which envelops the body of the animal ; the forma- 

 tion commences at the small end or spire, and 

 gradually goes on, whorl upon whorl, as the still 

 widening circles which gives the ridgy appearance 

 to most univalves are called. Columella, or pillar, 

 is the name given to the spire on which the cones 

 are rolled; this is sometimes solid and sometimes 



