II HABITS OF CARNIVOROUS SNAILS AND SLUGS 53 



pharynx, is a very remarkable feature in the hal)its of the 

 animal. It appears, as it were, to harpoon its prey by a rapid 

 thrust, and when the victim is once pierced by a few of the 

 powerful sickle-shaped teeth (compare chap, viii.) it is slowly but 

 surely drawn into the oesophagus (Fig. 20). 



Most gardeners are entirely ignorant of the character of 

 Testacella, and confuse it, if they happen to notice it at all, with 

 the common enemies of their tender nurslings. Cases have been 

 known, however, when an intelligent gardener has kept specimens 

 on purpose to kill worms in ferneries or conservatories. In some 

 districts these slugs are very numerous ; Lacaze-Duthiers once dug 

 182 specimens from a good well-maniu-ed piece of ground whose 

 surface measured only ten square yards. 



Towards the end of September or beginning of October the 

 period of hibernation begins. I infer this from the behaviour of 

 specimens kept in captivity, which, for about a fortnight before 

 this time, gorged themselves inordinately on as many worms as I 

 chose to put into their box, and then suddenly refused food, buried 

 themselves deeply in the earth, and appeared no more during the 

 winter. The eggs are apparently much less numerous than is the 

 case with Limao: or Helix, and very large, measuring about -^ inch 

 in diameter. They are enveloped in a remarkably tough and 

 elastic membrane, and, if dropped upon any hard surftice, rebound 

 several inches, just like an india-rubber ball. 



The animal creeps rather rapidly, and has the power of 

 elongating its body to a remarkable extent. When placed on the 

 surface of the ground, in the full light of day, it soon betrays 

 uneasiness, and endeavours to creep into concealment. Its method 

 of burying itself is very interesting to watch. It first elongates 

 its neck and inserts its head into the soil ; gradually the body 

 begins to follow, while the tail tilts upwards into the air. Ko 

 surface motion of the skin, no writhing or wriggling motion of 

 any kind occurs ; the creature simply works its way down in a 

 stealthy and mysterious way, until at last it is lost to view. 



The great Glandina, which attain their maximum develop- 

 ment in Mexico and the southern United States, are a very 

 noticeable family in this group. According to Mr. Binney,^ 

 Glandina truncata Gmel., one of the commonest species of the 

 genus, is somewhat aquatic in its habits. It is found in the sea 



^ Bull. Mus. Com]). Zool. Harv. iv. p. 85. 



