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Land Snails — Part 3

Whistles and other toys, necklaces and bracelets made of snail shells are sold to tourists all over Europe. H. nemoralis and H. acuta are the species commonly used for stringing.

Snails are the accepted barometers of the common people. If they leave the herbage and take to the bare rocks, or if they climb trees you may expect rain.

Dishonest dairymen manufacture "cream" out of skim milk by squeezing into it the clear mucus of snails. The consistence of the milk becomes creamy, and a little annatto gives the yellow colour. This is a very ancient practice, but still in favour in parts of England.

The most beautiful of the Helices are the numerous species of the Philippine genus Cochlostyla. Hugh Cuming was the fortunate conchologist who discovered these wonderful land and tree snails, gay as the birds and insects of those tropical islands. Instead of rashly plunging into unknown tracts of forest jungle, Cuming hired the natives to bring him all the snails they could find. There was no danger, he knew, of an over supply, for to the cabinets of European collectors these shells would soon be distributed when he was ready to make known the treasure he had uncovered in this far country. Children entered the race, discovering many species their fathers overlooked. By tactful explanations, and by curing some minor ailments by his knowledge of medicine, Cuming established himself in the good graces of the population, and thus was able to carry back to England all he wanted (if that could ever be) of nearly two hundred species. Imagine his feelings when one day he went out to meet one of his native collectors who stalked along under the burden of a large bag filled with specimens. Splendid Cochlostylae, at that time absolutely unknown to the scientific world, were crawling down the man's back and escaping to the woods.