.THE GARDEN SNAIL. 5S5 



but they perfectly recovered their scaldings in boil- 

 ing water. 



" I had an abundance of empty shells of the same 

 kind, but they had not the beauty of those which 

 had snails in them. However, I used those only 

 which 1 could apply without cruelty and compunc- 

 tion. This I then thought a very surprising event, 

 but Mr. Simon's snails, I must confess, are far supe- 

 rior to mine*." 



From various experiments that have been made on 

 Snails, it appears that they are possessed of consider- 

 able powers of reproduction. Spallanzani found that 

 the whole h^ad might be cut off, and that in. a cer- 

 tain time another would be formed. 



THE GARDEN SNAIL -j*. 



See to the fight the gentle warriors move, 



And dart, with harmless force, the shafts of love! 



The mode of breeding, in this and a few other, 

 species of snails, is extremely curious, and too well 

 authenticated to be doubted. At a certain time of 

 the year they meet in pairs, and, stationing them- 

 selves an inch or two apart, launch several little 

 darts, not quite half an inch long, at each other. — > 

 These are of a horny substance, and sharply pointed 

 atone end. The animals, during the breeding sea- 

 son, are provided with a little reservoir for them, 

 situated within the neck, and opening on the right 



* Ann. Reg. vol. xvii. p. 86. i Helix hortensis. Linn. 



