extinction because of the cattle which characters are seen and appreciated. By 

 have been introduced into the islands, such an examination we find that the little 

 In feeding on the bushes, they also con- apertures are armed with many teeth and 

 sume large quantities of these snails. A folds, and sometimes we wonder how it is 

 bush inhabited by these little creatures that the animal ever gets in and out 

 must be a beautiful sight, with the green through such a labyrinth of apparent ob- 

 foliage set off by the handsomely colored structions. These teeth serve in a man- 

 shells, like jewels on a costly dress. ner to protect the little animal from its 



Among the edible snails none excel in enemies. These tiny shells are always to 



public favor the common edible snail of be found plentifully under starting bark 



Europe (Helix pomatia). The cultiva- and under chips, stones and debris, in 



tion of this animal has become an estab- more or less moist localities, 



lished business, like our oyster fisheries, In another genus of Pupidae, Clausilia, 



and thousands are consumed annually, nature has provided the aperture of the 



The early Romans considered this animal shell with a little valve called a "clausil- 



a dainty dish, and the inhabitants of ium," which acts as a spring door to close 



France, Spain and Italy have inherited or the shell against all its enemies. This 



cultivated a liking for the succulent door is an additional safeguard as the 



"Shell-fish." This species has been in- aperture is already provided with nu- 



troduced into New Orleans where it is merous teeth and folds. In this manner 



eaten by the French inhabitants. Helix does Mother Nature look after her chil- 



nemoralis, an edible snail of England, dren. 



with a beautifully banded shell, is sold in It is a curious fact that in all the larger 

 the streets of London and eaten much as groups of animals there are one or more 

 we eat walnuts, by picking out the animal genera which have the cruel and blood- 

 with a pin ! The edible snails, as well as thirsty propensities of the shark. The 

 many others, make good and interesting Mollusca are no exception to this rule, 

 pets in captivity, the Helix pomatia being and we find in the genus Testacella an 

 of such a size that it may be easily animal having all the ferocious propensi- 

 studied. It is interesting to watch one of ties of the terrible man-eating tiger. This 

 these snails feeding upon a piece of let- mollusk has a long, worm-like body, the 

 tuce. First the jaw is seen to protrude shell being very small and rudimentary, 

 and to cut off a small piece of the leaf, ear shaped, and placed on the extreme 

 which is drawn into the mouth and re- posterior end of the animal. Its princi- 

 duced to still smaller pieces by the rasp- pal food consists of earth-worms, al 

 ii ke radula. A large piece of lettuce, after though it will attack other mollusks and 

 this snail has made a meal upon it, looks even its own species. It has been likened 

 as if an army of worms had been at work, to the tiger and the shark in its cunning 

 The pomatia is also of an inquisitive dis- while pursuing its prey and in its ferocity 

 position and will wander about the snail- when attacking it. The poor earth-worm 

 ery (or even the whole house if he can stands but a slight chance of escape when 

 get out), examining everything in a very Testacella scents it and starts in pursuit, 

 curious manner. No more interesting ob- The worm tries to escape by retreating 

 ject can be placed in a library or study into its underground galleries, but this is 

 than a snailery with several species of of no avail because the mollusk has a 

 snails. They are far superior in interest long, narrow body and can go wherever 

 to goldfish or canaries. the worm does. If the worm, perchance, 



The most interesting snails are by no has the opportunity of retreating far into 



means the largest. Frequently the small its galleries, the mollusk will dig tunnels 



snail shells with their animals have habits to intercept it. Frequently the mollusk 



or shell structures of absorbing interest, will make a sudden spring upon its vic- 



Among these are the Pupas, whose tiny tim, taking it by surprise. This slug-like 



shells frequently reach the astounding snail will frequently devour a snail much 



size of one-sixteenth of an inch in length ! larger than itself, but if the victim is too 



It is not until we place these mites under large for one meal it will be broken in 



the microscope that their interesting the middle and one half eaten and di- 



78 



