THE TOP'S EYES. 9 



fleshy taper threads (called cirri), which wave viva- 

 ciously to and fro as the creature crawls. These are 

 probably the seats of a delicate sense ; perhaps receiv- 

 ing impressions analogous to those of touch, from the 

 strokes they continually make on the surrounding fluid. 



In front we see a distinct head, with a broad flat 

 muzzle not altogether unlike that of an ox. On each 

 side of the back part of this head, there is another long 

 taper thread : these are called tentacles, but neither in 

 form nor in structure can we discern any difference be- 

 tween these and the cirri that fringe the mantle. In 

 all probability they are alike organs of a highly delicate 

 sense of touch. 



Immediately behind each of these head-tentacles you 

 see a little wart, which has a black bead set as it were 

 in its substance. You have often, doubtless, observed 

 the similar black points that are placed at the tips of 

 the upper pair of the horns (tentacles) of the common 

 garden snail ; and I daresay, when a child, you have 

 amused yourself by touching them, and noticing how 

 instantaneously the sensitive creature would roll them 

 in, so to speak, concealing them far in the interior of 

 the inturned horns. And every child is taught that 

 these black spots are the snail's eyes; and so, indeed, 

 they are ; and these spots on our Top's warts are its 

 eyes too, notwithstanding that some learned naturalists, 



