The Society’s Logo: Pomacea canaliculata (Lamarck)

The origin of the shell which has appeared in the Society’s publications since their inception was investigated by Professor Graham FRS who could find no definite reason for its appearance. The drawing is not original. It first appeared in a book by Alcide d’Orbigny in 1835 (plate 50, figure 5, Voyage dans l’Amerique Meridionale, Volume 9, c. 1834-36) and was repeated in S.P. Woodward’s Manual of the Mollusca (1851 and 1875, figure 84). The first President of the Society was H. Woodward, S.P.’s brother, and Professor Graham wonders if the drawing was originally picked up simply because a block was available, it was the right size and it seemed the right shape to fill what was otherwise an undesirably blank space (to Victorian eyes) on a title page. It seems otherwise very odd to pick a drawing of Pomacea canaliculata, a South American snail, as the emblem of a London Society.

Professor Graham has toyed with the idea that, as it is amphibious to a degree, it was meant to symbolise an interest in both terrestrial and aquatic snails, but it is not marine and it arouses no suggestions of interest in other molluscan classes so he fancies that availability of a block, cheapness and convenience underlay its selection. Cheapness, he is sure, appealed then as now - several members are thanked in early accounts of meetings for donations to cover illustrations.