_Snail eating_ (Vol. viii., p. 34).--The beautiful specimens of the large white snails were brought from Italy by Single-speech Hamilton, a gentleman of _vertu_ and exquisite taste, and placed in the grounds at Paynes Hill, and some fine statues likewise. On the change of property, the snails were dispersed about the country; and many of them were picked up by my grandfather, who lived at the Grove under Boxhill, near Dorking. They were found in the hedges about West Humble, and in the grounds of the Grove. I had this account from my mother; and had once some of the shells, which I had found when staying in Surrey. JULIA R. BOCKETT. Southcote Lodge. The snails asked after by MR. H. T. RILEY are to be met with near Dorking. When in that neighbourhood one day in May last, I found two in the hedgerow on the London road (west side) between Dorking and Box Hill. They are much larger than the common snail, the shells of a light brown, and the flesh only slightly tinged with green. I identified them by a description and drawing given in an excellent book for children, the _Parent's Cabinet_, which also states that they are to be found about Box Hill. G. ROGERS LONG. The large white snail (_Helix pomatia_) is found in abundance about Box Hill in Surrey. It is also plentiful near Stonesfield in Oxfordshire, where have, at different periods, been discovered considerable remains of Roman villas; and it has been suggested that this snail was introduced by the former inhabitants of those villas. W. C. TREVELYAN. Wallington. _Sotades_ (Vol. vii., p. 417.).--Sotades is the supposed inventor of Palindromic verses (see Mr. Sands' _Specimens of Macaronic Poetry_, p. 5., 1831. His enigma on "Madam" was written by Miss Ritson of Lowestoft). S. Z. Z. S. _The Letter "h" in "humble"_ (Vol. viii., p. 54).--The question has been raised by one of your correspondents (and I have not observed any reply thereto), as to whether it is a peculiarity of Londoners to pronounce the _h_ in _humble_. If, as a Londoner by birth and residence, I might be allowed to answer the Query, I should say that {230} the _h_ is never heard in _humble_, except when the word is pronounced from the pulpit. I believe it to be one of those, either Oxford or Cambridge, or both, peculiarities, of which no reasonable explanation can be given. I should be glad to hear whether any satisfactory general rule has been laid down as to when the _h_ should be sounded, and when not. The only rule which occurs to me is to pronounce it in all words coming to us from the Celtic "stock," and to pass it unsounded in those which are of Latin origin. If this rule be admitted, the pronunciation sanctioned by the pulpit and Mr. Dickens is condemned. BENJAMIN DAWSON. London.