SLUGS LAND AND POND SNAILS 



93 



to find a way into the slug, with the result that it is caught by 

 the "tongue" and devoured. The worm-eating slugs, which are 



often found in large numbers in gardens, 

 may be recognised not only by their rough 

 skins but also by the presence of a tiny 

 shell, like a finger nail on a finger which is 

 situated on the hinder end of their bodies 

 "^^: at0! ' ed (see figure 207).* The eggs of these 

 creatures are comparatively very large and 

 possessed of a hard shell. 



LAND AND POND SNAILS 



Besides the common snail, there are many others more or less 

 related to it to be found in this country amongst gras^, under stones, 

 or in the open. We figured the large edible snail with its winter 

 "lid" on page 108, Part I. There are also some- 

 what smaller and more gaily coloured snails ; others 

 again, so minute as to approach in size the pro- 

 verbial pin's-head, while some very elegant forms 

 with narrow pointed shells recalling marine forms 

 are to be met with. Though these forms are fairly 

 well known, as naturalists have long paid attention 

 to them, there is much of interest about them. Here 

 we find small snails which emit a strong odour of 



v r -j.1. ] s u I? -A FIGURE 210. The 



garlic ; there, a form with distinct bristles on its 

 shell, or one which plasters its home with mud 

 in order to escape attention ; while we know of 

 some provided with a little shelly plate hinged inside the mouth 



* The recent floods at Eton (February 1904) caused a great number of these slugs to 

 come above ground in Mr Hill's garden. It was found that they could undergo several 

 days' submersion without harm. 



egg of a worm- 

 eating Slug broken 

 open to show the 

 young one inside. 



