76 DELICATE REVELATIONS. 



muscles extending along the centre of the foot ; but in eonie of 

 the species the surface of the foot is divided by a longitudinal 

 line along the centre, the muscles on the two sides of which act 

 in rotation, and so cause the animals to progress in a perpetual 

 zigzag. The glistening slimy tracks which they leave behind 

 " the silver-slimy trails," as poor Clare calls them are pro- 

 duced by a discharge of mucus, designed to protect their tender 

 bodies, and smooth the asperities of their way. It must be a 

 very comfortable thing for the Snails to be able to carpet their 

 path in this easy off-hand manner, and we confess we like to see 

 the silvery line on posts and palings or gravelly walks , but 

 when, as happens sometimes, the little fellows pay us a visit, 

 in our parlour, where the place is carpeted beforehand, they 

 might be considerate enough to wipe their feet before coming in. 

 We must not omit to mention in this part of our discourse, 

 the pretty conceit that obtains in some parts of the country as 

 to the power of the Snail to reveal to tender-hearted maidens the 

 names of their destined sweethearts. May-day morning is the 

 auspicious occasion on which the disclosure can alone be made, 

 and never do the entire Snail family meet with so much consi- 

 deration as on that happy day. The poet Gray alludes to the 

 subject in his lines beginning 



" Last May-day fair I search'd to find a snail, 

 That might my secret lover's name reveal ; " 



ana Croker, in his work on "Irish Fairy Legends," informs us 

 that in Ireland it is the common practice of boys and girls on 

 May-day, to place the little soothsayer on a piece of slate lightly 

 sprinkled with flour or fine dust, and to cover it over with a 

 large leaf, when it never fails to describe by its mazy wanderings 

 the initial of the much-desired name. 



A good deal of discussion has taken place amongst naturalists, 

 as to whether Snails have any eyes or not. The popular notion, 

 of course, is that the little knobs at the extremity of their long 

 leelers or horns are eyes ; and though several writers have ques- 

 tioned or boldly denied the truth of this opinion, it seems to be 

 now pretty generally conceded, that the little club-shaped pro- 

 jections are true visual organs, Swammcrdam, indeed, long ago 

 demonstrated the matter to his own satisfaction, and pointed out 

 the five distinct parts of which the eye consists. But then he 



