GASTEROPODA. 231 



matter. A month elapses before it ventures from 

 the hole in which it was born, into the air and light 

 of this upper world, when at length it begins to devour 

 living vegetables, though still for some time prefer- 

 ring such parts as are in a decaying state. Through 

 the remainder of the summer it increases rapidly in 

 size, but the frosts of October check its activity, and 

 warn it to prepare a winter lodging. It now be- 

 comes dull, ceases to feed, and associates with others 

 of its kind in considerable numbers, in ditches, 

 hedges, holes, &c. Its mode of forming its winter 

 concealment is very curious : having selected the 

 place, it begins by secreting on the under surface 

 of the foot a quantity of very thick slime ; it presses 

 its foot to the earth, a layer of which adheres to it ; 

 then turning its foot up on one side, and throwing 

 out a fresh supply of slime, the layer is left like 

 a little wall. The Snail then takes up another 

 layer of earth in the same manner, and forms an- 

 other portion of the wall, thickening them in course, 

 and deepening the cavity in proportion as he en- 

 larges the walls. The mucous slime with which the 

 earth is stuck together and lined, renders the walls 

 of this habitation strong, durable, and smooth. Hav- 

 ing raised the walls, the little architect proceeds to 

 construct a dome or arched roof of the same ma- 

 terials, the foot with the successive layers of earth 

 being applied to the upper part until the walls meet 

 in an arch. If a portion of this be now very care- 

 fully removed, we may see what follows. The Snail 

 is lying with the mouth of the shell facing the roof 



