364 ANDROGYNOUS MOLLUSCA. 



the disposition of the sexual organs is such that the animal 

 cannot not only fecundate itself, hut even " mutual impreg- 

 nation between two individuals is impossible. To complete 

 the purpose of nature, the animals require to arrange them- 

 selves in lines or chains in a certain position, so that the 

 sexual organs may be in contact, one with the male organ 

 in connection with the oviduct of the nearest adjacent ani- 

 mal on one side, and its own oviduct in a position to be 

 impregnated by a third individual. In the ditches where 

 they abound may often be seen long chains of these animals, 

 in which, with the exception of the two at the extremities, 

 all are alternately fecundated or fecundating."* 



When amorous poets sing of Cupid, his quiver and his 

 darts, they use a language which some grave naturalists have 

 believed may be applied literally to describe the loves of 

 some of our commonest snails (Helix aspersa, hortensis, 

 arbustorum). The season urges them to unite, and the 

 wooing pair make their approaches by discharging at inter- 

 vals several small darts at each other. These darts are 

 shaped something like a bayonet, and made of a horny crys- 

 talline substance ; they are contained within a cavity — the 

 quiver — on the right side of the neck, from which they are 

 said to be launched when the animals are about two inches 

 distant from each other ; and the darts being shot home, the 

 affections are won and a marriage is the result ! Such is the 

 story you will find told in almost every popular compilation 

 of natural history, with more or less detail of time and cir- 

 cumstance, sometimes in prose and sometimes in verse ; but it 

 has httle foundation in fact. The existence of the darts, in 

 some few species of Helix, is certain ; while the power of 

 the snail to throw them from its reservoir is imaginary. f 



* Brewster's Jonrn. of Science, Oct. 1829, p. 336; Ann. dcs Sc. Nat. 

 XXX. 59. Adanson Hist. Nat. du Senegal, Coquill p. 10. ; De Montford 

 Conch. Syst. ii, 204 and 272. — To those curious physiologists who will have 

 a reason for every thing, the following passage, containing a reason for the 

 hermaphroditism of snails, may he acceptable : — " Hujus autem divisionis 

 ilia, ut opinor, j^rsecipua ratio est : nempe, cum id genus animalia omnino 

 pedibus careant, sine quibus nullam esse posse copulam, invita fcemina ad 

 venerem peragendam ; itaquc ut ambo sint mares, ex aliqna saltern corporis 

 parte, necesse est. Etenim in coitu celebrando solicitatse fueniinae fere 

 marcs mctuunt, et aversantur : ideoque et unguibus et dentibus pleraque 

 animalia foeminas, dum eas subigere cupiunt, sibi arripiunt, omnibusque 

 viribus detinent. Igitur in Cochleis, quibus nee ungues, nee dcntes, idonei 

 sunt, ne fceminarum protervitas coitui obstaret, ambo maris oestri participes 

 facti sunt, quo ad copulam jungendam eodem impetu sibi mutuo adcurrant, 

 incantque." — Lister, E.rer. Anat. de Coc/i. 145. 



t " If such are ever discharged at each other we have been extremely 

 unfortunate in our observations, for in no one instance could we ever find the 



