272 JOURNAL OF CONCHOI.OGY, VOI,. I3, NO. 9, JANUARY, I9I2. 



In its circuit of the body the blood is not strictly confined within 

 arteries, veins, and capillaries, as in our own bodies, but has alsq 

 large spaces or lacunae interposed in the course of its circulation, and 

 thus freely bathes the surface of many of the organs of the body. 



The Reproductive System is of an hermaphrodite character, being 

 composed of the union of the male and female organs in the same 

 individual, but self-fertilization does not take place, as the reciprocal 

 union in sexual congress of two individuals is essential for effective 

 fertilization ; this is secured by the exchange during coition of 

 what are known as spermatophores, which are masses of spermatozoa 

 cemented together in a special shape which is determined by the 

 particular species to which they belong. 



This system of organs is especially remarkable for a very curious 

 accessory, the " Love-Dart." This peculiar weapon, which resembles 

 a four-bladed dagger or stiletto, is developed in every full-grown speci- 

 men at pairing time, and is mutually used by the snails in their 

 preliminary coquettings when exciting each other to sexual congress, 

 and as the darts are usually lost in these conflicts, they are often 

 found lying on the ground in places where snails abound. 



In former times, and even by some recent authors, the darts were 

 supposed to be forcibly ejected from the pouch and launched, like 

 arrows, against their prospective partners, and illustrations have actu- 

 ally been published showing the darts in transit through the air. 



" See to the fight the gentle warriors move, 



And dart with harmle.ss force the shafts of love." 



The symbolical fancy of Cupid with his darts would thus appear to 

 have some foundation in actual life, at least so far as the moUusca 

 are concerned. 



During these amorous preludes, the actions of the animals are very 

 different from their behaviour at ordinary times, as they fondle, caress, 

 and pat each other with their palpi, and exhibit every symptom of 

 pleasure. 



The ocular tentacles also at those times curve downwards, as though 

 looking at each other, a peculiarity only noticed at those pairing times 

 and probably due to the withdrawal of blood to other organs. 



This love-making occupies a great deal of their time, as they have 

 been observed engaged in this process for ten to fifteen hours at a 

 stretch. The eggs are laid during the summer, usually about a week 

 after pairing, and under ordinary conditions hatch in about three 

 weeks or a month ; they are about one-sixth of an inch in diameter, 

 of an oval shape, with an elastic membranous covering, and are 

 buried in the ground at the roots of grass, etc. ; they vary in number 

 but perhaps average about one hundred. 



