THE WHITE ROCKERY 63 



gress of evolution and a gradual but steady improve- 

 ment in terrestrial conditions, the need for slugs 

 slowly waned and ultimately disappeared. Of course, 

 I deal with geological periods of immense duration, 

 and am not suggesting that the demand for slugs 

 ceased suddenly. Cease it did, however, and there 

 came a tragic moment when Nature said to the 

 slug, " Go ! I require you no more. You have done 

 your work well, and I thank you, but henceforth I 

 propose to proceed without you. Good-bye." 



And the slug replied to Nature, "Not at all. I 

 suited your convenience by coming. I shall consider 

 my own before departing. This place suits me ; the 

 conditions suit me ; there is a growing rage for the 

 choicer alpines in temperate gardens ; and they also 

 suit me. I am not ready to go ; I don't want to go ; 

 and, to make a long story short, I won't go." 



Now that is where we stand. It is the sluggishness 

 of the slug that is his strength. Nature and the slug 

 are in the same relation to each other as man and the 

 rabbit in Australia, or Frankenstein and the pathetic 

 horror he created but could not control. What the 

 end will be I can form no opinion. The slug 

 problem, like the servant problem and the flying ship 

 problem, remain to solve for those who follow us. 

 One thing may be conceded to the slug. When he 

 informs Nature that he is not ready to go, he tells 

 the truth. To despatch him now is to cut him off in 

 the very midnight of his sins. Many have I sent to 

 their account with their mouths actually full of some 

 precious thing that very likely cost five shillings. 



