1036 Mollusks. 



banditti." It may be questioned whether the snail were a " stalled " one, slaughtered 

 for the occasion, or merely a piece of carrion, which had drawn from far those lovers 

 of the tainted air. The Omaseus I think might be quite capable of such doings, as I 

 once saw its ally, Platysma niger, engaged in dragging a portion of an earth-worm, 

 which had all the marks of being recently mangled. Thus far my observations on 

 the retributive justice dealt out by beetles on what we must now regard as one of their 

 natural enemies. Some of the Silphida? (Oiceoptoma dispar and Silpha quadripunc- 

 tata) are known to relish snails as food, but I never before was witness to an analogous 

 fact. On the other hand, that the black slug, at least, is carnivorous, even to the re- 

 lishing a piece of good beef, I have had ocular proof. About a year since I brought 

 home two slugs in my botanical box, along with some plants ; and being desirous of 

 making some experiments as to their habits, I put them, together with the plants, in 

 a vessel in the dark part of a room. They were neglected nearly a fortnight, during 

 which time the plants were either consumed, or, as they were wet, reduced to a half- 

 decayed state. On recurring to the slugs, they were found dozing in a corner, under 

 the plants, in the posture assumed in their hybernacula. As I noted every circum- 

 stance as it occurred, I shall give a particular account of what took place. For some 

 time after being brought out to the light, they showed no other motions than merely 

 rocking to and fro, as if unwilling to be aroused. By the application of a little wa- 

 ter and the fire, I succeeded, however, in stimulating their sluggish frames : they be- 

 gan to show their tentacula, and to crawl. Having heard something of their feats in 

 devouring earth-worms, I thought perhaps they might have a relish for something 

 more highly organized than a plant, particularly as they had been subjected to rather 

 a long fast. I accordingly provided them with a piece of raw beef, at the bottom of 

 a jug, in which I had them placed. Having relapsed into their torpor, on the side of 

 the vessel opposite to the meat, I set them aside for a little. When I resumed the 

 post of observation some time after, which was about half-past 6, one of them, the lar- 

 ger, had already attacked the beef, having a part of his head beneath it, evidently em- 

 ployed in eating ; while the other, with half-protruded tentacula, was gliding forward 

 in a direct line, and nearly approaching it. He used no ceremony, but as if it was 

 common fare, applied his lips to the beef and commenced feeding. This he did by 

 opening a mouth furnished with ridges outside and interiorly, like the puckerings of a 

 sober dame's lips ; and after sucking in the meat, eating and mumbling it after the 

 fashion of the same toothless dame. It was very eager, never once leaving off. It be- 

 gan at one part and ate straight along, shifting its head progressively at each fresh 

 mouthful. It thus happens that leaves fed on by slugs are cut all along the edges. 

 It was a clean eater, never expatiating in a nibble here and there. Its tentacula, 

 while thus busily engaged, continued half protruded, one occasionally running out to 

 its full length ; and only one of its breathing holes, that on the right side, was kept 

 open. Once or twice, while feeding, it turned up the front of its mouth, which was 

 moistened with blood, showing an interior process, perhaps its tooth ; being provided 

 with one in the upper jaw. On these occasions it would give one or two gapes, as if 

 licking its lips and cleansing them for new sallies. The other snail fed in a similar 

 manner, till being interrupted by the edge of the jug, it left off and took a little repose. 

 The other, still feeding, approached it, but though it advanced till skin touched skin, 

 the only concern manifested for this rude contact, was its sheathing all its tentacula, 

 excepting one that remained sentry, long and unicorn-like. Thus it lay for a time, 

 till at length it began to move, feeling its way round with an abundance of caution, 



