Page:The Zoologist, 3rd series, vol 2 (1878).djvu/116

94 favourite situations for this snail; but as it is rather inactive by day, the best time to look for it is at twilight, or after a shower of rain. The inappropriate name lapicida was bestowed upon ii by Linnaeus, under the mistaken impression that it bored or excavated calcareous rock, as the Teredo does wood. This is one of the very few instances in which a species has been inaptly named by that most remarkable and observant of naturalists. It is a local species in Sussex. Specimens have been met with on old walls aud under leaves at Cowfold, Henfield and Lindfield.—B. In the neighbourhood of Ratham, near Chichester, not uncommon on the trunks of beech trees.—J. At Uppark it is often found in wet weather ascending the smooth trunks of the young beech trees.—W. At Kingly Vale also numerous specimens were found on ivy-covered trees, and clinging to the under side of the ivy leaves.—H. It is not included in the lists from Brighton and Eastbourne.

Helix obvoluta. The Cheese Snail.—So called from its shape, which resembles a little flat cheese. It is of a reddish brown colour, thickly studded with short hairs. The mouth, which is rosecoloured, and thus quite different to that of every other British species of Helix, is closed during the period of hybernation with a thick calcareous epiphragm. The species is a very local one, and, except in a few favoured localities, must be regarded as rare in Sussex. As an inhabitant of Ditcham Wood, near Buriton, it was discovered by Dr. Lindsay, at one time a resident in the neighbourhood. It has since been found at Ashford Wood and Stonor Hill (Rev. W. H. Hawker); Crabbe Wood, near Winchester (W. A. Forbes); Uppark (Weaver); Kingly Vale, near Chichester (W. Jeffery); Duncton (Godlee); Elsted (Miss Buckland); and in a "hanger" on the north side of the South Downs at Springhead, near Stoirington (Borrer). It is generally found amongst moss at the roots of hazel, and, after rain, on beech trees at some height from the ground. It is not included in the lists of Mollusca of East Sussex.