74 
PROCEEDINGS OF THE PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
known to be natives of Perthshire. I have only given de¬ 
scriptions of species where such might help beginners to 
distinguish between species closely resembling one another, 
and in such cases only some leading characteristics are 
given. 
21. Succinea putns, although a true land snail, is 
almost amphibious in its habits, as it frequents the wet 
banks of lakes and streams, and is sometimes even found 
in the water. In Perthshire it occurs at several stations, 
but is not common. 
22. Vitrina pellucida is at once distinguished by its 
fragile and globular shell, which is of a pale green shade, 
and, as its name implies, nearly transparent. It is abun¬ 
dant everywhere throughout the county, particularly in 
moist situations, and beneath moss and stones. 
23. Zonites cellarius. The genus Zonites, which is 
distinguished from the typical genus Helix by the semi¬ 
transparent and glossy character of the shell, will pro¬ 
bably present the greatest difficulty to the beginner, on 
account of the similarity between young specimens of the 
larger species, aud full-grown specimens of the smaller; but 
the eye will soon be able to detect immature shells of any 
species. The present species is universally distributed 
throughout the district, and seems to prefer damp and 
shady situations. One distinguishing feature is the flat¬ 
ness of the upper surface of the shell. 
24. Z. alliarius, if found alive, is not to be mistaken 
for any other species, on account of the strong odour 
of garlic which it emits, and by which, indeed, I have 
often tracked it to its hiding-place. The shell differs 
from that of the last species in being of a darker shade 
of horn, more glossy, and slightly more convex. It is not 
quite so common as the last, and seems partial to woods, 
where it hides amongst moss at the roots of trees, 
25. Z. nitidv.lus is the commonest of the genus, and is 
found in a great variety of situations. It differs from all 
the others of the genus in the dull, waxen lustre and 
greater convexity of the shell, especially on the under 
side. 
26. Z. purus, known by its pale horn colour, is widely 
distributed, the white variety, margaritacea, being rather 
more so than the type. 
27. Z. radiatulus occurs in several localities, but is not 
common. It is found amongst stones in rather dry situa¬ 
tions. The shell is of a rich brown colour, and beauti¬ 
fully sculptured with radiating striae. 
28. Z. crystallinus. This most beautiful little shell 
is partial to shade and moisture, and will generally 
be found in deep wooded glens, amongst the soft moss 
and decaying leaves and ferns. Some of the latter should 
be collected in a bag and taken home for examina¬ 
tion. After having been spread out on a newspaper until 
they are perfectly dry, they should be sifted two or three 
times, each sifting being carefully examined. In this way 
a number of minute species will be found which could 
scarcely be detected by any other means. 
29. Z. fulvus may be distinguished from all the other 
species of the genus by its raised spire. It is widely 
distributed, and found in a great variety of situations. 
30. Helix lamellata. We have now reached the typical 
genus of land snails, which is distinguished from the 
preceding genus by the shell being generally more solid 
and less glossy. The present species is nowhere very 
common, and in Perthshire, has only, I think been taken 
in the neighbourhood of Birnam, where it was first de¬ 
tected by Dr Buchanan White. 
31. H. aculeata is remarkable on account of the crown 
of spines with which the shell is ornamented. It is com¬ 
mon throughout the district on stones and rocks. 
32. H. aspersa is the largest of our Perthshire species. 
In England, and particularly in the south of England, this 
is the commonest and most widely distributed of the land 
molusca, but in Scotland its range is chiefly confined to 
the sea coast. During one of the earliest excursions of our 
Society, however, a colony was discovered on Kinnoull 
Hill, and since then it has been found at several other 
stations in the lowland part of the county. 
33. H. nemoralis, which will be at once recognised by 
its brown spiral bands, is pretty widely distributed. It 
is probably the commonest species in gardens. I have 
taken the varieties hortensis and hybrida as well as the 
type, on Kinnoull Hill. The first of these, which is 
known by its white lip, is nearly as common as the type 
in the lowland districts, and I think more so in the High¬ 
land districts. The variety minor has been taken by Dr 
Buchanan White at Blair-Athole, and has also been found 
at Balgowan. 
34. Helix arbustorum is the most finely-marked of the 
larger species, being of a rich brown colour, mottled with 
a darker shade of the same, and very glossy. It is pretty 
common in woods and on old walls, in moist situations. 
The variety alpestris is not uncommon. 
35. H. concinna, and 36 H. hispida, are equally distri¬ 
buted, and are frequently found in company in dry situa¬ 
tions, such as stone heaps and old quarries. I confess I 
am unable to distinguish the empty shells of the one 
species from those of the other, but the animals may be 
known by the lighter colour of the foot in H. hispida . 
The variety subrufa. of the latter is not uncommon. I 
have frequently taken these and other species by sweep- 
