206 SNAIL, GLOW-WORM. 



differently tasted juices are in esteem among them. Some 

 species will not work, but carry off the young of others, to 

 become their servants, and nurse their future progeny and 

 captives ; taking care, however, never to introduce the 

 foreign males and females. These depredations are not 

 committed with impunity ; the attacked opposing them- 

 selves, but in vain, to the robbery. Some fight for the 

 possession of their Aphides, or for the places where the 

 food is found. In these combats many are slain, and 

 many taken captive. These, and other particulars equally- 

 curious, are admirably detailed in the French work of M. 

 Huber, on the Indigenous Ants. 



THE SNAIL. 



THESE creatures inhabit shells, and are furnished with 

 four horns, at the ends of which are placed the eyes. The 

 animal can push out or draw back these horns at pleasure. 

 The mouth is armed with teeth, with which it chews 

 leaves and vegetables. It is a curious fact that two of 

 these insects at a certain time of the year station them- 

 selves an inch or two apart, and throw at each other little 

 darts of a horny substance, and very sharp. After a 

 mutual discharge of these love weapons, they become 

 friends, and lay their eggs, which are about the size of a 

 pea. By the help of a magnifying glass, the young Snail 

 can be seen in the egg without its heavy shell on its back. 

 The shell has at first only one convolution, but the circles 

 increase in number with the growth of the animal ; never, 

 however, exceeding four and a half in the Garden Snail. 



THE COMMON GLOW-WORM 



Is a very curious animal. During the summer, as late 

 as August, on dry banks, about woods, pastures, hedge- 

 ways, &c. it is seen by its light, which is vivid and beauti- 

 ful, in the form of a round spot. It is still doubtful 

 whether the male be provided with this ornament. The 

 animal is about three quarters of an inch long, of a dull 

 earthy brown on the upper parts, more or less tinged with 

 rose colour beneath ; from the two or three last joints, 

 which are sulphur-coloured, proceeds the light, yellowish, 

 inclining to green, and appearing to be phosphoric. This 

 insect differs but little in its three states: the light is 

 brightest in the perfect insect. The Glow-worm is slow in 

 moving, seeming to drag itself forward by starts. 



