SNAIL. 171 



Helix. — The Snail. 



The eyes of the Hortensis, or Garden 

 Snail, are lodged in their horns, one at the 

 end of each horn, which they can retract at 

 pleasure. The manner of examining these 

 eyes, which are four in number (though a 

 cruel experiment), is this : when the horns 

 are out, cut off nimbly the extremity of one 

 them ; and placing it before the microscope, 

 you may discover the black spot at the end 

 to be really a semi-globular eye. The dis- 

 section of this animal is very curious ; for 

 by this means the microscope not only dis- 

 covers the heart beating just against the 

 round hole near the neck, which seems the 

 place of respiration, but also the liver, 

 spleen, stomach, and intestines, with the 

 veins, arteries, mouth, and teeth, are plainly 

 observable. The intestines of this creature 

 are green, from its eating herbs, and are 

 branched all over with fine capillary white 

 veins ; the mouth is like a hare"'s or rabbit's, 

 with four or six needle teeth, resembling 



