12 TESTACELLID^. 



means the rings are forced open, its purpose is effected and the 

 meal secured. 



"Although it also feeds on slugs and snails, and even on its 

 own species (the shells of which have been found in its stomachy 

 it will not eat dead animals, and even refuses pieces of a fresh 

 worm which has been chopped up to feed it. It only sallies out 

 at night in search of its prey, burying itself deep in the ground 

 during the daytime. After having gorged itself with a worm, 

 it rests many hours in a half-torpid state until the meal has been 

 digested ; and it can remain fasting a long time (as much as 

 fourteen or fifteen nights), until hunger compels it to make a 

 fresh himt. It does not fear the cold, or appear to suffer any 

 inconvenience from it except when the ground is hardened by 

 frost ; and in this respect it resembles the slugs, the Yitringe, 

 and some of the Zonites, some of which are nearly as carnivorous 

 and hardy as the Testacella. The average length of life in the 

 Testacellse appears to be five or six years. Their smell is like 

 that of worms, only more nauseous. They chiefly frequent 

 gardens, where they are sure of finding their proper food ; but 

 they may occasionall}'- be met with in woods near inhabited 

 places, as well as at the foot of old walls. In winter they bury 

 themselves very deep in the ground ; and my gardener once 

 brought me living specimens of T. Ifaugei which he had dug up 

 in trenching some celery-roots at a depth of about two feet. 

 The eggs are laid separately and are very large in proportion to 

 the size of the body. These somewhat resemble hens' eggs both 

 in shape and consistency, and are covered with a rather thick 

 and tough skin. If they are taken out of the earth and exposed 

 to a cold air, the}' frequently crack and burst in pieces which fly 

 off to some little distance." — Jeffreys^ Bi'it. Gonchology. 



During winter and dry weather the Testacella forms a sort of 

 cocoon in the ground by the exudation of its mucus. If this cell 

 is broken, the animal may be seen completely shrouded in its 

 thin opaque white mantle, which rapidly contracts until it extends 

 but a little way beyond the margin of the shell. It was intro- 

 duced into Great Britain, where it is becoming common. 



Daudebardia, Hartmann, 1821. 



Etym. — Dedicated to Daudebard de Ferussac, a celebrated 

 French conchologist. Syn. — Helicophanta, Fer., 1822. 



Diatr. — 13 sp. Central and eastern Europe, Algiers, New 

 Zealand. U. Gaillardotii, Bourg. (ci, 45, 46). Syria. 



Animal limaciform, subcylindrical, tapering anteriorly ; ten- 

 tacles simple ; mantle small, posterior, quite near the tail, covered 

 with a small, external shell ; longitudinal furrows above the 

 margin of the foot ; usually no caudal mucous pore ; external 

 respirator}^ and anal orifice at the posterior right margin of 



