SNAIL. 
597 
snail well known, and much esteemed among the 
Romans, who kept them in cochlecLvici , or places 
appropriated to the purpose, where they were fat- 
tened with bran and wine lees. Mr. Pennant says, 
Sir Kenelm Digby first imported them from Italy, 
but whether for medical purposes, or as an article 
of food, is uncertain. However this may be, the 
species is still confined to certain counties, and, 
though common enough in Surry, is by no means 
plentiful elsewhere. 
On some parts of the Continent these slimy ani- 
mals are still admired, and Dr. Townson was shown 
at Erlaw a complete snailery, constructed, as the 
proprietor informed him, on an improved plan. 
This was merely a hole dug in the ground to the 
depth of two or three feet, and covered with a sort 
of wooden house. 
This species is much larger than the garden snail, 
and is of a brownish yellow colour, marked with 
three faint bands. It provides against the incle- 
mency of winter, by retiring to a warm hole, and 
closing the mouth of the shell with a thick cover or 
operculum. In this state it remains till the spring 
be sufficiently advanced to entice it from its hiding- 
place, when it creeps forth, and presently recruits 
the loss of flesh which it sustained during its re- 
tirement. 
