Anton van Leeuwenhoek en zijn 'Wijngaart Slakken'
Summary:
Leeuwenhoek's letter nr. 110 dealing with ..Wijngaart Slakken" (Vineyard Snails) is discussed. The eggs from which he reared young snails cannot be classified as Helix pomatia L. The first sample contained probably eggs from members of the Zonitacea or from small slugs. The first sample is not conspecific with the other two samples. The third sample might be classified as Cepaea nemoralis. Leeuwenhoek has seen the flowing blood in the pulmonary vein and the beating heart in his newly born snails.