114 
HELICID^. 
best and most durable cements in nature, resistinoc 
every degree of heat and moisture.” 
Helix pomatia is nearly confined to the chalk dis- 
trict of the south of England : it has been found as 
far north as Wiltshire. Miller says it is rare in a 
park at Bristol (where it might have been intro- 
duced). According to Montagu, it is not an 
aboriginal species in this kingdom, but was first 
introduced about the middle of the 16th century, 
either as an article of food, or for medicinal purposes. 
It is supposed they were first imported from Italy, 
and turned out in Surrey by a Mr. Howard at 
Albury. It is also said that Sir Kenelm Digby 
[about 1630?] dispersed them about Gothurst, near 
Newport Pagnel in Buckinghamshire; and Mr. 
Morton informs us they were turned out by Lord 
Statton, at Kirby in Northamptonshire.” Dr. Turton 
observes that their having been used as food, as 
mentioned by Lister (to which I may add the fact of 
Merret having mentioned them without any note, as 
found in Sussex, in his Pinax^ published in 1667), 
strongly militates against the idea of their being 
of foreign origin. They have been said to be found 
as far north as Devizes, in Wiltshire, and in Glouces- 
tershire. I believe they are rather restrained by the 
limits of the chalk basin than by the climate, as they 
are abundant in the Botanic Garden, and the gardens 
of the nobles in the south of Sweden, where the 
climate is much more rigorous ; and I have no doubt 
that, if they could pass the other strata, they could 
live on the chalk in Yorkshire. Some years ago 
they were introduced into Scotland by Patrick 
