FRIENDS WORTH KNOWING. 



I. 



IN A 8NAILERY. 



TWO-THIRDS of the persons to whom I show the little 

 land and fresh-water mollnsks in my snailery either start 

 back with an " Oh ! the horrid things !" which causes me 

 some amusement, or else gaze straight out of the window, 

 saying languidly, " How interesting 1" which hurts my 

 pride. I confess, therefore, that it is contrary to experi- 

 ence to attempt to interest general readers with an ac- 

 count of 



" Ye little snails, with slippery tails, 

 Who noiselessly travel across my gravel." 



Yet why not ? Snails are of vast multitude and variety, 

 ancient race, graceful form, dignified manners, industrious 

 habits and gustatory excellence ; quod est demonstrandum. 

 Snails differ from other gasteropodous mollusks chiefly 



