OF NEW ENGLAND. 13 
drawing within the head, but remain always extended. 
When the snail is feeding, it is very curious to observe 
the listless appearance of the larger tentacles. A dog, or 
a cat, when feeding will often partially close the eyes 
and appear drowsy. It would seem that similar sensa- 
tions are experienced by the snail, for while feeding, the 
tentacles are partially drawn within the head and hang 
downward, as if the delights of feeding were altogether 
too engrossing to mind the lax state of the tentacles. 
When on the trail, however, the tentacles are thrust out 
to their greatest length, perfectly rigid, and give an ap- 
pearance of alertness to the snail that it does not possess. 
Just beneath the lower tentacles the mouth is situated, 
having on the upper lip a crescent shaped jaw, (Fig. 7, 
Plate 1,) of a heavy texture, and quite hard. In some 
Species of snails, the jaw is quite smooth, and has a slight 
projection on the cutting edge. In other species, the 
larger ones especially, the jaw is ribbed, and the cutting 
edge is notched and jagged like so many tecth as it were. 
In fact this jaw answers all the purposes of an upper set of 
teeth, for it is capable of biting through the thick leaves 
of a cabbage; as can be easily proved, by keeping a 
snail in confinement, and feeding it on cabbage or let- 
tuce, of which it is very fond. When feeding, all the 
movements of the mouth are plainly visible, and not 
only can the little semi-circular cuts of the jaw on the 
leaf be seen, but while feeding the nipping sound of the 
bite can be distinctly heard. The larger snails are also 
very fond of flour paste, and while luxuriating in this 
simple diet each white mouthful can be easily traced in 
its course, from the mouth to the stomach, owing to the 
translucency of the snail’s body. The lower lip is not 
furnished with a plate, but just within the mouth there is 
