LAND-SHELLS. 
215 
individual is disembowelled alive, and two short 
thread-like substances are taken out of its body. 
These threads are at first about three inches in 
length, and are covered thickly with a glutinous 
fatty substance. When dipped in a solution of 
some kind — apparently vinegar— this fatty matter 
comes readily off, and the threads are drawn out to 
their full length. Those which I measured on 
the spot were fully five feet long. I believe they 
are largely used in the manufacture of fishing- 
lines, for which there is a considerable demand in 
Japan. The countrymen engaged in collecting 
them informed me they were also woven into 
articles of clothing, but if such be the case, which 
I think doubtful, such cloth must be very ex- 
pensive. 
The land-shells of Japan are of some interest 
to the conchologist, but the species are few in 
number, and not remarkable for their beauty. 
Mr. Cuming informs me that a Helix , with a re- 
versed mouth, which I have brought home, is 
H. qucesito ( Deshay es), another is Helix japonica 
(Pfieffer), and a third, of which there are three 
varieties, is a new species, and undescribed. It is 
rather remarkable that a country like Japan, 
which abounds in woods, gardens, and waste lands, 
should have so few land-shells; such, however, is 
the case, as, had they been more plentiful, I think 
Tunga and myself must have met with them in our 
rambles. 
During the last days of June and the first of 
