46 



The Naturalist. 



the same way as cats do mice. (p. 29.) This observation 

 is not only exceedingly valuable as an addition to our know- 

 ledge of the economy of the gold fish, but it possesses a far 

 higher importance considered with reference to certain theore- 

 tical opinions of some distinguished zoologists. How Mr. 

 Swainson will pounce upon this new illustration of his views of 

 the representative system : Felis maniculata among Mammalia, 

 represented by Cyprinus auratus among fishes ! The points 

 of correspondence are so striking, and established upon such 

 clear evidence, that we think the most confirmed opponent 

 of the views of Mr. Swainson may now waver in his scepticism. 



Both animals, it should be observed, are carnivorous; both 

 shake their prey after catching it, and both swallow it after 

 shaking it. We must not, however, enter upon the con- 

 siderations which here naturally present themselves, as our 

 limits would not allow us to do justice to the merits of the 

 other young lady's observations, which exceed in interest, if 

 possible, those of Miss Dobson's. 



This very modest unassuming contribution may truly 

 be said to contain multum in parvo. It is headed, " Music 

 of Snails.'' We give it verbatim et literatim : — 



* One evening, I kneeled upon the window-seat when it was nearly 

 dusk, and heard a soft musical sound : not a humming or murmuring, but 

 a truly musical tone. I saw a snail, and, having a desire to annihilate 

 those destroyers of fruit and flowers, took it from the window. I had 

 silenced the music! I recollected what I had heard, and felt a sort of 

 pang." (p. 38.) 



That a young lady, kneeling at her window in the dusk of 

 the evening, should hear a soft musical sound, , will, we pre- 

 sume, be regarded by those who are at all versed in matters 

 of natural history as an occurrence quite within the limits 

 of possibility : but the sounds heard on these occasions are 

 not usually attributed to cold-blooded animals. We cannot 

 help half suspecting the presence of some creature possessing 

 a higher degree of organisation than a mollusc. Let it not, 

 however, for one moment be imagined that we intend to cast 

 a shadow of an imputation upon the young lady's veracity or 

 powers of correct discrimination. There is the strongest 

 prima facie evidence to justify her in concluding that the dulcet 

 airs proceeded from the snail ; and it is only our profound 

 acquaintance with zoology that has enabled us to imagine the 

 possibility of her having made a mistake. The lady and the 

 snail being at the window together, soft musical sounds were 

 heard : upon the young lady's annihilating the snail, the music 

 ceased : ergo, the music proceeded from the snail. The sole 

 evidence, therefore, of the musical powers of the snail rests 



