THE GARDEN SNAIL 



IV 



more highly developed than our ^wn, 

 for it can locate its food from afar ; and, 

 to us, that food often has no sensible 

 odour. 



This point well illustrates the danger 

 in drawing analogies from the human body. 

 Seeing that the snail performs many 

 sensory functions that are extraordinary 

 to human comprehension, it is probable 

 that it possesses senses that are not 

 analogous with our own, and of which, 

 consequenth', we have no conception. 



The snail's organs of hearing, if they 

 exist at all, are most likely located in 

 the upper surface of its foot. but. in any 

 case, they are of a most simple character, 

 and sound, as we know it, seems to have 

 httle or no effect upon the snail. 



I am not aware that any organs of taste 

 have been located in the snail, but, 

 judging by its decided preference for 

 beans, and other choice 

 of the garden that are not 

 its use, it seems to possess 



fruits, peas, 

 commodities 

 intended for 



strongly developed faculties in this direc- 



tion. It is also assisted in this respect 

 by the possession of most complex mouth- 

 parts. Its tongue is a kind of rasping 

 instrument, a file provided with more 

 than 14,000 teeth in rows of about 100 

 in each. The thickened hps are pressed 

 against the mushroom or leaf on which 

 it is about to feed, in sucker-like fashion ; 

 then the toothed file, or hngual ribbon, 

 is applied ; and the damage that these 

 numerous minute teeth can perform soon 

 becomes apparent. 



Its relation, the Roman or Edible Snail 

 [Helix pomatia). which is found in some 

 locahties in England, possesses more than 

 20,000 teeth, some of which I have shown 

 in one of the photographs ; but even that 

 number is comparatively small, for one of 

 its foreign relations is said to own a 

 dental palate bearing 40,000 teeth ; and 

 what is most remarkable in connection 

 with these toothed rasps is that, as the 

 rows of teeth in use wear away, other 

 rows are formed to take their place. 



John J. Ward. 



GARDEN SNAILS HHiERNATING DURING WINTER AGAINST A WALL THAT 

 HAD BEEN PROTECTED BY A PIECE OF SLATE. 



