FOOD, HABITS, ETC. yy 



and even the Coyote, will feast on them. Very 

 many birds besides the Thrushes 1 partake of Land 

 Snails ; while Sea-Gulls and other sea-birds, with 

 Crows, will forage at low water for the marine kinds ; 

 and sometimes, carrying them inland to devour, will 

 drop the shells in places where they may well puzzle 

 future geologists by their presence. Swans, Ducks, 

 Geese, and other water-birds feed on freshwater 

 Mollusca, especially the young ones. Slow-worms 

 are very fond of Slugs ; Frogs and Toads less so ; 

 Newts will take freshwater Snails. Fish, especially 

 marine ones, consume large quantities. The Cod, 

 Gurnard, Wolf-fish, even the Mullet and Sole, to 

 name a few, make their diet off Bivalves ; while the 

 Conger will attack and devour the Octopus. 



Among invertebrates their worst enemies are their 

 own kindred, as already noted. Crabs will break 

 open the shells of young Oysters to get the animal 

 within. Certain insects seem to select Snails for 

 their victims. The female Glow-worm (Lampyvis 

 noctiluca) attacks and kills Helix nemoralis. Staphy- 

 linus olens has been seen to set upon and kill the 

 Heath Snail (Helicella itala) ; and the larva of 

 another Beetle, Drillus flavescens, will even assault a 

 land operculate (Pomatias), watching till the Snail 

 begins to issue forth, and then with its strong jaws 



1 Though Blackbirds are commonly credited with also 

 eating Snails, it is very doubtful if they really do, especially the 

 larger kinds. 



