178 



POPULAR CONCHOLOGY. 



met with in such numbers in some parts of 

 Cornwall, that it is impossible to take a step 

 without crushing them. It is the prevailing 

 opinion that they contribute much to fatten 

 the sheep which browse upon the herbage 

 where they are met with, which is principally 

 on sandy maritime pastures. 



45. Achatina. — Shell somewhat like the 

 last genus, but longer; the lip thin, and ap- 



parently notched at the base of the pillar, from 

 its rolling over ; aperture about half the length 

 of the shell ; no operculum. Animal like the 

 Helix. — 35 species recent, 1 fossil. 



Some of the Achatince are the largest of all 

 known land shells ; they live always near water 

 about trees, and are very plentiful in Africa, 

 particularly at the Cape of Good Hope. Some 

 are found in the West Indies ; but very few in 

 Europe. Two small species, A. acicula and A. 



