has been queftioned by fome Naturalifls, yet the accu- 

 rate refearch of Swammerdam has fufficiently proved 

 their real nature, and that they are furnifhed with near- 

 ly the fame humours, coats, and veffeis as in moft of 

 the larger animals. Some authors have fuppofed the 

 horns to be a kind of natural telefcopes, and that the 

 animal fhortened or lengthened them according to the 

 diftance of the objects to which it direded them; but 

 this idea fecms to imply a more complicated ftrudture 

 than can be found in this organ, and, I believe, mult 

 be given up as one of thofe ingenious hypothefes which 

 are too frequently entertained by fpeculative enquirers. 



The teeth of the Snail are fharp and ftrong, and all 

 the internal as well as external parts of the creature 

 are admirably calculated by Nature for the mode of life 

 to which it is deftincd. 



But the moft wonderful part of the hiftory of the 

 Snail, is its manner of breeding; and I muft requeft 

 my readers to fummon all their philofophical faith to 

 receive the furpriling particulars. 



Jf the obfervations of the moft profound enquirers 

 into the operations of Nature amongft the lower orders 

 of animals may be depended upon, the amours of Snails 

 are conducted in a manner very different from thofe of 

 moll other creatures, and are always preceded by a ve- 

 ry extraordinary ceremonial, which has all the appear- 

 ance of a regular combat. 



When thefe animals are difpofed to love, they figni- 

 fy their mutual wifhes by launching feveral little darts 

 at each other. Thefe darts are of a very fliarp form, 

 and of a horny fubftance, and the animals are provided 



with 



