Marvels of the Universe 



o 



59 



creatures can be made most interesting pets — 

 even though, perhaps, a trifle unresponsive. 

 Thev have been called Agate Snails on account 



of the high polish and curious variously- 

 coloured markings which adorn some members 

 of the tribe. In captivity, when the young 

 emerge from the bird like eggs, they should 

 be separated from their parents or they will 

 certainlv be devoured, as most snails are 

 cannibals. They possess a powerful weapon 

 of offence, a long, flexible ribbon set with 

 numerous rows of minute but serviceable 

 shark-like teeth, the rasping of which can be 

 plainh- heard when the animals are feeding. 



There are some one hundred and si.xty 

 different kinds of Agate Snails, mostly in- 

 habiting the tropics ; only a single representa- 

 tive of the tribe being found in Britain. This 

 species, however, is so peculiar in its habits 

 and structure that it is quite worthy of 

 mention among the Marvels. Not exceeding 

 a fifth of an inch in length, the highly- 

 polished, transparent and colourless shell is 

 known from its slender form as the Hairpin 

 shell. It is inhabited by an equally colour- 

 less animal, which is so transparent that the 

 food it has eaten may be seen within. This 

 absence of colour in animal and shell is due 

 to the fact that it lives three or four feet 

 underground and has never been found alive 

 on the surface. This subterranean habit of 

 life has also deprived it of the power of sight, 

 though it possesses perfectly-formed eyes at 



;s. fits 

 it i? 



MOTH ON OAK FENCE 



Waved Umber nnoth. aliUe in its 

 into the genera! appearance of the 



olour 

 oakei 



and its marU- 

 fence so well 



that it i? scarcely perceptible. 



the ends of its " horns," or tentacles. Its food 

 is likewise mysterious, no one having yet been able to determine whether it consists of vegetable 

 or animal matter ; but the fact that it is specially attracted by buried bones gives colour 

 to the beUef that it is carnivorous by preference. There are large species of Hunger Snails that 

 run the Agates rather close for size. These also are mostly tropical, the species photographed 

 (page 361) being from New Caledonia. Our only British representatives of the group are tiny 

 snails found on trees and rocks of which the larger of the two measures only two-thirds of an inch. 

 Our largest British land snail is known by various names. Archaeologists, who used to find 

 it on the sites of old Roman camps and villas, supposed it to have been introduced into this country 

 as a dainty by wealthy Roman officers, and called it the Roman Snail. But though this (or a 

 very similar species) was in high favour with the Romans as a nutritious delicacy, the shells may 

 be found in earthy deposits which were formed long before the Romans appeared in these islands ; 

 and it is merely a coincidence that the Roman camps and villas were built on chalky soil, which is 

 the natural habitat of this snail. Another name, the Apple Snail, has also been bestowed 

 upon it erroneously. This term is very appropriate as regards its shape, but its scientific name, 

 pomatia is derived from a Greek word meaning a " trap-door," and not from the familiar Latin 

 pomum — an apple. The ancient Greek naturalist gave it its name because he observed that 



