OKDER GASTEROPODA. 51 



the path, nothing but the wall in front, — but still, 

 although the whole of their path was covered with dust, 

 they proceeded steadily on, until they had surmounted 

 the wall, and reached their old quarters. By what other 

 faculty were they guided but that instinct which supplies 

 the place of the higher powers of the mind, and which is 

 imparted with so liberal a hand to the meanest creature 

 in nature ? 



ORDER GASTEROPODA. 



The Gasteropods are so called from two Greek words, 

 meaning belly and foot, because the foot, or organ of 

 motion of the animals of which this order consists, is 

 attached to the whole of the under part of the creature, 

 or rather, the belly or under part is itself the foot, and is 

 for that purpose broad and tlat. The Gasteropods are 

 also distinguished from the last order by having a 

 straight body, in no case spiral, and never possessing a 

 shell capable of enclosing the whole body ; in some 

 cases, the body is completely naked, and without the 

 protecting covering of any shell whatever. 



The Red Slug, {Limax rufus.) 



The Common Slug is a good example of an individual 

 of this order, entirely wanting a shell. The Slugs, like 

 the snails, are found in all countries; they are equally 

 destructive to vegetation, but as yet have never been 

 used by man for any useful purpose, if we except the 

 fact of their sometimes becoming the food of ducks and 

 poultry. The Limax rvfus, Red, or more properly brown, 

 Slug, for the colour is of a reddish-brown, varying in in- 



