406 THE SLUGS. 



a remarkable fact, that in many spots where the Komans great connoisseurs in Snails- 

 had fixed their establishments, the Edible Snail is still to be found. I have seen many 

 of these great Snails caught near Oxford. Regular houses were built for the purpose of 

 fattening the Snails, which were bred to an enormous size by constant feeding with 

 a mixture of meal and new wine. There are even now on the Continent several 

 snaileries, where the inmates are abundantly supplied with food, though they are not 

 fattened with the elaborate precaution of the Roman times. 



Even the common Snail is thought a delicacy by those who are sufficiently strong- 

 minded to eat it ; and it is quite common to see, even in Paris, the poorer orders dressing 

 their dinner of Snails on an iron plate, heated over burning charcoal. I once knew an 

 old woman, one of the few surviving wearers of scarlet cloaks, who used daily to search 

 the hedges for Snails, for the purpose of converting her milk into cream. This cheap 

 luxury was obtained by crushing the Snails in a piece of linen, and squeezing their juice 

 into the milk. She showed me the whole process, which I afterwards imitated as far as 

 the mixture with the milk, but could not bring myself to test the result by taste. 



Towards the end of autumn, the Edible Snail ceases to feed, withdraws itself to some 

 sheltered spot, mostly under grass, moss, or dried leaves, and then sets about making its 

 winter habitation. This process is very curious, and is thus described by Mr. Bell : 



" A large quantity of very viscid mucus is secreted on the under surface of the foot, 

 to which a layer of earth or dead leaves adheres ; this is turned on one side, and, a fresh 

 secretion being thrown out, the layer of earth mixed with mucus is left. The animal 

 then takes another layer of earth on the bottom of the foot, turns it also to the part 

 where he intends to form the wall of his habitation, and leaves it in the same manner, 

 repeating the process until the cavity is sufficiently large, and thus making the sides 

 smooth, even, and compact. In forming the dome or arch of the chamber, a similar 

 method is used, the foot collecting on its under surface a quantity of earth, and the 

 animal, turning it upwards, leaves it by throwing out fresh mucus ; and this is repeated 

 until a perfect roof is formed. 



As I have very often watched this curious process, I am certain of the facts. On 

 removing very carefully a portion of the roof soon after its completion, I was enabled to 

 see the formation of the operculum. In about an hour, or even less, the whole surface 

 of the collar of the mantle instantaneously pours out the calcareous secretion in 

 considerable quantity. This is at first a fluid or thick cream, but very soon acquires 

 exactly the consistence of bird-lime, being excessively adhesive and tenacious ; and in 

 about an hour after it is poured out, it is perfectly solid." 



ON the same engraving may be seen a shell, represented as climbing up a daffodil. 

 This is the LEMON BULIMUS, an example of another large genus, containing more than 

 six hundred species. These shells can be distinguished from those of the snails, to 

 which they are closely allied, by the greater comparative length, the oval shape of the 

 aperture, and the thickness of the outer lip. The last whorl is always very large. Some 

 of the exotic species, such as Bulimus ovatus, attain a large size, and lay eggs even larger 

 than those of the chaffinch, the young animal having a shell measuring an inch in length 

 when hatched. Several species are very beautifully coloured. Many species of Bulimi 

 are excellent food, and are sold in the markets. 



THE largest of all the land snails are the great AGATE-SHELLS (Achatina) of Africa, 

 which attain a length of eight inches, and lay eggs larger than those of the bulimus, and 

 with hard calcareous shells. 



WE now come to the CHKYSALIS-SHELL, shown as creeping up a sapling. 



This shell belongs to a large genus, containing about one hundred and sixty species, 

 and has received its popular name from its shape, which bears some resemblance to that 

 of a chrysalis. This animal has always a short foot, pointed behind, and very short 

 lower tentacles. 



WE now arrive at the great family of Limacidee, or Slugs, a race of beings which 

 many a gardener doubtlessly wishes extinct. 



