40 Beautiful Shells. 



But let us return to our Garden Snail, who 

 has many near relatives in Britain, several of which 

 have beautifully-marked and convoluted shells, as 

 will be seen by a reference to our coloured illus- 

 trations, Plate I. We will introduce them in due 

 order. Fig. 1, the Banded Snail {Helix nemoralis), 

 from the Latin nemus — a wood or grove ; the 

 prettily-striped shells of this species may be found 

 in great plenty among the roots and in the crevices 

 of the rugged boles of old forest trees, as well as 

 in hedge-rows and in mossy banks, and other 

 situations near woods. Fig. 2, the Heath Snail 

 (H. ericetorum), from erica, the Latin for heath; 

 a small species with brown bands, remarkable for 

 its large umbilicus, perforating the centre of the 

 shell nearly through. Fig. 3, the Silky Snail 

 (H. sericea), from the Latin sericus — silk-like; 

 the shell of this species is covered with short 

 slimy hairs, which give it a glistening appearance. 

 Fig. 4, the Stone Snail (JET. lapicida), from the 

 Latin lapis — a stone: Linnaeus called the species 

 the Stone Cutter, probably on account of its habit 

 of frequenting stony places, and the peculiar 

 construction of the shell, which has a sharp 

 edge running round each whorl; it is commonly 

 found lodged in the cavities of loose-lying stones, 



