PONTON : COMMON GARDEN SNAIL. 



163 



First, then with regard to its temperature. This is exceedingly variable, 

 so that no certain rule can be laid down with regard to it. rrom the mean 

 of several observations, the temperature would appear to be equal or nearly 

 so at all seasons, varying generally both in summer and winter, from about 

 to two degrees higher than the temperature of the air, and sometimes two 

 degrees lower. I have however never found it either higher or lower than 

 these two extremes. 



After its winter fast, during spring and the early part of summer, the 

 snail has a curious propensity for gorging itself The quantity eaten at a meal 

 during this period, varies from six to nine or ten grains, the usual quantity 

 being about eight grains, or half the weight of the animal exclusive of its shell. 

 At this time it usually fasts from five to seven days after each meal, and this 

 although fresh food is constantly supplied. On one occasion it fasted as 

 long as nine days, after this fast it gorged itseK to such an extent as to be 

 unable to withdraw into its shell, but lay in a helpless state at the bottom of 

 the jar in which it was kept, for about ten hours. This habit of gorging 

 however, only lasts about two or three months. After that the quantity of 

 food consumed, is pretty constant during the remainder of the summer. It 

 is much less in quantity than during the spring, being only about five grains 

 or a third of its own weight exclusive of the shell ; it usually only eats 

 every other day. In the selection of its food the snail is a bit of an epicure, 

 it is very partial to lettuce and cabbage, but if supplied with both it will eat the 

 lettuce in preference to the cabbage, doubtless from its being more aromatic ; 

 the leaves of nasturtium it is also particularly fond of, hop leaves it likewise 

 greatly affects, but mint, laurel, mustard, and sweet briar, it wont touch, 

 mustard especially being held in abhorrence. 



One day my snail escaped, and fell off the table, breaking its shell in the 

 fall. I had thus a good opportunity of observing its power of repairing 

 injuries. After being placed in confinement it immediately fixed itself on 

 the side of the jar, next day I perceived that a thin pellicle of calcareous 

 matter had formed over the bare surface,- and in a week this became slightly 

 coloured, and within a month the part was entirely restored. 



The pace of the snail is proverbially slow, on calculation I found that 

 its rate of progression was usually about a yard in twelve minutes, being 

 nearly seventeen hundred and sixty times slower than that of a man. 



Dr. Bell observes, with regard to the hybernation of the snail, that it usually 

 begins about the beginning or middle of October. Both this year and last 

 mine began to hybernate about the middle of September. This difference of 



