6* 



341 



OF TURBINATED SHELL FISH OF THE SNAIL , 

 KIND. 



The history of the garden snail, though so insigni- 

 ficant in appearance, has excited the attention of the 

 curious as much as the largest animal of the quadru- 

 ped race ; for it is as completely furnished with organs 

 of existence as if destined to pass the most useful kind 

 of life. Upon minute examination it is found to be en- 

 dowed with tongue, brain, saliva ducts, glands, nerves, 

 stomach, intestines, liver, heart, and vessels for the 

 blood ; besides which it has a bag that furnishes dif- 

 ferent parts of the body with a red matter, and strong 

 muscles that unite it to the shell. 



When the snail is in motion, four horns may be ob- 

 served, the two uppermost of which exceed the other 

 in length ; but what renders them peculiarly remark- 

 able is, that at the extremity of each are placed the 

 eyes ; under the smaller horns the mouth is situated, 

 which is furnished with eight sharp teeth, with which 

 it devours leaves, and different kinds of vegetables on 

 which the animal promiscuously feeds. 



When the young of this animal first leave the cgg y 

 which the parent, after laying, always conceals in the 

 earth, the shell may easily be discerned upon the back; 

 but, at that time, it has only one convolution, yet, as it 

 grows in size, the circles increase, from that slimy kind 

 of matter which exudes from the body, which at once 

 nurtures the snail and composes the shell; and if acci- 

 dent should injure or crush it to pieces, this glutinous 

 composition restores it again. 



The appetite of this singular creature is known to be 

 voracious ; and gardeners, in general, have reason to 

 dreacl their effects ; salt and soot are both recommend-* 



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