Introductory 2 3 



at their extremities — they take an upward direction 

 and are waved backwards and forwards for the 

 purpose of receiving impressions. 



The shell is supported near the middle of this 

 elongated body, and appears to be rather small for 

 the accommodation of so large an inmate, though we 

 have not yet seen the whole of the Snail. What we 

 can now see extended is generally known as the foot 

 — the locomotive organ of the Snail. Within the 

 shell is a good deal more — the " visceral hump " con- 

 taining most of the internal organs. By a series of 

 muscular contractions the Snail glides along upon the 

 sole of its foot, slime being poured out for the 

 necessary lubrication of its path — the glistening 

 silvery trail that often enables the irate gardener 

 swiftly to avenge the loss of his choicest seedlings. 



The mouth of the creature, as will have been seen, 

 is situated just below the smaller pair of tentacles, 

 and is bounded by lips. Behind the upper lip is the 

 horny, arched, and ribbed jaw which bites off and 

 breaks down the food, which is then passed over a 

 ribbon-like tongue, set in regular order with thousands 

 of hook-like teeth, which rasp it into minute frag- 

 ments. It then, of course, finds its way to the crop 

 and the stomach by way of the gullet, for, in spite of 

 the Snail's jelly-like, structureless appearance, it can 

 boast of heart, liver, kidney, reproductive organs, and 

 both nervous and muscular systems. With these 

 items we have no immediate concern, for in this 

 volume I do not propose to enter deeply into the 

 anatomy of my subjects; but there is one point to 

 which I must call attention. If we look at the mouth 

 of the shell when the Snail is extended, we shall see 



