THE SNAIL. 
65 
plants that may be on it, and turn up the soil 
from beneath. With the hoe they loosen the 
ground to let in air and water. 
10. Are not the changes which they thus make 
of the same kind as those which, in their own 
way, the ant and earthworm cause? These 
little workers really help the planter to till the 
soil well. , 
THE SNAIL. 
1. There are many animals, without bones, 
whose bodies are formed on quite a different 
plan from those of the bee, spider, lobster, and 
earthworm. They are known as soft - bodied 
animals, and the snail is one of them. 
2. Snails feed on plants, and like to dwell in 
moist places. They cannot crawl if the ground 
is quite dry; so in very dry weather they get a 
moist footing by pouring out slime as they go. 
Of course you have often seen the shiny trail 
made by the slime where a snail has crawled. 
3. Wherever it goes its shell, which is its house, 
must go too. The animal cannot leave it, though 
part of its body can come outside. 
" To grass, or leaf, or fruit, or wall. 
The snail sticks close, nor fears to fall, 
As if he grew there, house and all. 
Together. 
(M 857) B 
