Further snail enthusiasm

Clausilia bidentata. CC image Hectonicus. You too can find one of these.

I had a day off last week, but when my sister and I went for a walk, we couldn't help ourselves and started rummaging through the leaf litter for some snail shells. Yes, it seems my blog has inspired one person, even if it's not someone who has to submit a collection. I see this as a minor triumph.

Altogether, I now have about 22 species. That would make you a pretty nice collection. It's not too hard to find so many - mine have largely come from flowerbeds and leaf litter, with a few that are particularly fond of woodland or limestone.

I cannot help thinking of one of the more depressing collections of recent years, which comprised a series of garden snails (Helix aspersa) arranged in a supposedly artful spiral, with a variety of imaginative identities attached. You don't have to do that, it's just not necessary when there are so many species that you will be able to find.

I've just noticed that my copy of Cameron and Riley's 'Land Snails in the British Isles' is the first edition, so now there's a second edition, it might be that the keys are even more straightforward to use. But don't be downhearted if you get stuck - even Cameron says "It is to be expected that some material will be unidentifiable."

I'm building up my collection of labelled specimens (and I know the ones I'm most/less certain of) - so if you want to bring in your own, we can always compare shells and opinions - I'm sure we'll both learn something.