Paper, 'On the growth of land shells [snails]' by E J [Edward Joseph] Lowe Lowe shares brief observations on molluscs of the genus Helix which have been kept in a box and fed daily. He suggests that the shells of Helicidae increase 'but little for a considerable period, never arriving at maturity before the animal has once become dormant'; that the shells do not grow while the animal itself remains dormant; that the growth of the shells is rapid when it does take place; and that most species bury themselves in the ground 'to increase the dimensions of their shells'. Subject: Zoology / Malacology Received 18 February 1854. Read 2 March 1854. Communicated by Henry James. Written by Lowe at Observatory Beeston [England]. This paper was published in full in volume 7 of the Proceedings of the Royal Society as 'On the growth of land shells'. 14 February 1854