16 
the genus Zonites and Helix, The shell is pyra- 
midal, very thin and glossy, and of a tawny or horn 
colour. It is found under stones and decaying leaves 
and moss, in woods and marshy places, and it occurs 
very commonly in this district—in Glenfarg, Mon^ 
creiffe, Califountain, in an old quarry at Lamberkin, 
and on KinnouU. Of the genus Helix proper there 
are found— 
1. Helix aculeata or Prickly Helix.—This shell is 
very small—about the size of a mustard seed—some¬ 
what pyramid'Shaped, lightish brown, with a series 
of sharp bristles or prickles rising from the centre of 
each whorl. Under a small hand glass it is an ob¬ 
ject of much beauty from the perfect arrangement of 
the bristles. The animal is found among dead leaves 
and moss in woods. It is gathered by collecting the 
dead leaves, spreading them out to dry on a news¬ 
paper, and then shaking them and examining the 
debris. In this way I have found the shell from 
leaves gathered in Glenfarg and on KinnouU HUl. It 
is likely to be met with generaUy over the county, as 
it extends from Aberdeen southwards. 
2. Helix asjpersa, or the besprinkled Helix.—^This 
sheU in size is almost the antipodes of the former, 
being nearly as large as a pigeon’s egg, globular, solid, 
and marked with brownish spiral bands. It is a very 
pretty shell, and, from its size, very attractive. 
The animals are fond of waU-fruit, frequenting 
kitchen gardens, and they are often met with cluster¬ 
ing together in great numbers on waUs and trunks of 
trees in a state of semi-hybernation. Two summers 
ago, in our infantile pursuits as a society, this sheU 
was considered rare, and many members wiU recal 
the rush which was made upon a colony discovered 
among ivy on the rocks along the Dundee Road at 
Bellwood. Since that time more stations have been 
discovered, among others near the coast above Inver- 
gowrie, and at Methven, Luncarty, &c. ; indeed it 
appears to be a very common and generally distri¬ 
buted sheU. From the habits of the animal, how¬ 
ever, it is not likely to be met with beyond the low¬ 
land portion of the county, where it abounds to its 
southern extremity. 
