187 



pushed the lid back with the same plan before them. Why did not some pusli 

 one away ? Some another ? Why did they attempt to widen the breach they had 

 made ? Why were they not satisfied to remain prisoners in the box instead of 

 toiling in concert to move the lid of the box out of their way. We may, I think, 

 conclude that they reasoned the matter amongst themselves, and we may as well 

 acknowledge at once that the lower orders of creatures have an amount of 

 intellifjence that vies with ours. 



MoUusks, as is tolerably well known, have a power, like the bat and tlie 

 dormouse and other animals, of suspending their animation during the winter and 

 cold periods. They dispense with food, and live in- a state of coma. As was 

 mentioned just now, they form a mouthpiece for themselves, if nature has not 

 given them one, and by this means await the time to come when the necessary 

 conditions are fulfilled for their restoration to activity. Then they renew their 

 life and get to work for food and their own perpetuation. 



A few words here about what are termed the Spicula amoi-in or love darts 

 of the Helices. There is a comprehensive paper about them in the Journal of 

 Conchology of July, 1883, by a Mr. C. Ashford. I have not been able to see the 

 same, and therefore venture to give the ctmdeused summa,ry of the paper word for 

 word from the Journal of the Koyal Microscopical Society, series ii., vol. iv., 

 Part 2, p. 210, 1884 :— "The dart is contained in a short ventricose pouch opening 

 into the lower part of the vaginal tube, a little above the common vestibule, on 

 the right side of the neck. There is usually one ; if two are present, the second 

 sac is on the opposite side of the tube from the first. The sac may be simple or 

 bilobate. At the bottom of the cavity of the sac i.s a conical papilla, which 

 serves as a basis for the dart, which is attached to it by its posterior end. The 

 apparatus is a development of adult life, and especially of pairing time, but this is 

 indifferently present or wanting in species otherwise closely allied. The dart 

 itself is a tubular shaft, of carbonate of lime, tapering to a solid, transparent, 

 sharp point, enlarging at or towards the base, where it assumes the form nf a .sub- 

 conical cap. The sides of the shaft are sometimes furnished with blade-like 

 longitudinal buttresses, which serve to strengthen it. They are rapidly formed, 

 may be secreted in six days, and differ in forni in different species. They are 

 supposed to serve the purpose of inducing, by puncture, the excitement prejjaratory 

 to pairing. They are too fragile to do more than prick the tough skin of these 

 Mollusks, but sometimes penetrate the apertures of the body, and are found 

 within. A new weapon is formed after the loss of the old one. It is best 

 extracted for study by boiling the sac in caustic potash." Thus far I have 

 transgressed a little from the text of the subject, on account of the interest 

 attached to these peculiar darts. 



I may here call attention to the interest which arises from recent and 

 preseut shells, when compared with those which are truly antiquarian. One of 

 the most devoted students of geology and kindred sciences — I mean an old 

 acquaintance, Mr. Moore, of Bath — has given a list of shells which have been dug 

 up in the city of Bath, in the pre-historic alluvium. They are not numerous, so I 

 give the entire number : — 



