BEAUTIFUL SHELLS. 



UNIVALVES. 



GASTERoroDA is a name given "by some naturalists to a very 

 extensiv^e group of molluscous animals; the term is derived 

 from two Greek words, signifying stomach and foot; — it has 

 reference to the kind of fleshy foot which generally occupies 

 the whole under side of the body, and by the contraction and 

 extension of the muscles of which, the creature is enabled to 

 glide, with a slow but steady motion, from place to place. 

 The Slug and the Snail are the commonest examples which 

 can be adduced of gasteropods ; and one may tell by their 

 slimy tracks, shining like silver in the morning sunshine, 

 that during the night, which is their principal feeding time, 

 they manage to get over a considerable extent of ground, 

 although "a snail's gallop" is a proverbial expression for slow 

 motion; but it is astonishing how much work of any kind may 

 be done if one ''keeps at it;" by doing this the Tortoise beat 

 the Hare, illustrating the truth of the proverb, that "slow and 

 sure wins the race." If you watch a Snail travelling with 

 its house upon its back, it does not seem to make much way, 

 and you arc inclined to think that it will be long ere it 

 reaches the new settlement to which it appears journeying 

 with bag and baggage; but leave the spot for a while, and 

 the chances are that on your return, the "slow coach" will 



