The forest home of the snail. 



and the shark, in its cunning while pursuing its prey, and in its ferocity 

 when attacking it. The poor earthworm stands but a slight chance 

 of escape when Testacella scents it and starts in pursuit. The earth- 

 worm tries to escape by retreating into its underground galleries; but 

 this is of no avail, because the mollusk has a long, narrow body, and 

 can go wherever the worm does. If the worm, perchance, has the 

 opportunity of retreating far into its galleries, the mollusk will dig 

 tunnels to intercept it. Frequently the mollusk will make a sudden 

 spring upon its victim, taking it by surprise. This slug-like animal 

 will frequently devour a snail much larger than itself; but if the vic- 

 tim is too large, it will be broken in the middle, and one-half eaten 

 and digested, and then the meal completed with the other half. 



" The Testacella also resembles the tiger and the shark in the posses- 

 sion of long, fang-like teeth upon the radula. These teeth are recurved, 

 and aid the mollusk in getting a firm hold upon its victim, and also 

 assist in the operation of swallowing. It is a curious fact that this 

 animal will not feed upon dead animals, nor upon fresh meat, or 

 freshly killed worms. Like the snake, which it greatly resembles in 

 some respects, it must hunt and kill its own food. Its wanderings 

 are nocturnal, as is the case with most of the land shells, and particu- 



50 



