SNAIL FOLK 



snail's blood and hold them together with cunningly 

 wrought rounded bits of nacre. 



By far the best relationship, however, is when by 

 association and attentive watching we have dipped 

 deep into the personality of a snail, and by virtue of 

 understanding can call him friend. I carry my re- 

 maining periwinkle — James — back to his wave- 

 worn rock. He has given me three days of pleasure, 

 has taught me considerable about himself and some- 

 thing I needed to know about my own being, and 

 as a guest his life is safe — tabu. My laboratory 

 table is again free and of my expedition into the 

 world of snails there remains as material proof, only 

 my artist's painting and a long-dried, glairy trail 

 across a split infinitive. 



223 



