MOLLUSCA. 443 
saw one of the Snails crawl out; the rest being dead, 
probably from their remaining some days in the water. 
The Small Grey Slug, (Limax cinereus,) is a Snail with- 
out an outside shell, and resembles that in all points, ex- 
cept that the brown skin of the back is rougher and 
stronger than in the Snail ; and that it has a small shell 
inside. Its progress on the ground may easily be traced 
by the slime which it leaves in its track. Few animals 
are more destructive to vegetation than these. 
The Slack Slug is a well-known inhabitant of our fields 
and meadows, during the summer season. The country 
people consider the appearance of this Slug as an indica- 
tion of approaching rain ; but this is rather to be accounted 
for by the moisture of the ground and of the plants. It 
is very seldom, indeed, to be observed abroad during dry 
weather, for this would deprive the external parts of its 
body of the moisture which is requisite for its subsistence. 
The Black Slug feeds on the leaves of different kinds of 
plants. The Snail and the Slug are considered emblems 
of tardiness and slowness ; and our immortal Shakspeare 
introduces the Snail very appropriately in his description 
of the Seven Ages of Man ; when he says, 
And then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel 
And shining morning face, creeping, like a Snail, 
Unwillingly to school. 
THE SEPIA, OR CUTTLE-FISH. (Sepia octopodia.} 
THE structure of these animals is very remarkable. 
Their body is cylindrical, and, in some of this species, 
entirely covered with a fleshy sheath ; in others the 
sheath reaches only to the middle of the body. They 
have eight arms, or rather legs, and in general two feelers 
much longer than the arms. Both the feelers and arms 
are furnished with strong circular cups or suckers. The 
