_THE SNAIL AND ITS HOUSE._
[Illustration]
1. In summer, when walking out in country places, we often find pretty
little snail-shells. Some of these are empty, and some have a live
snail within.
2. The shell is the snail's house. It is a queer house, as it grows on
him, as hair grows on a cat; and he carries it about on his back when
he walks.
3. The snail lives upon plants. In the day he finds some safe place
under a stone, or in a hole, draws himself into his house, and goes to
sleep. In the night he comes out and feeds.
4. When we catch a snail, and wish to look at him, we find that he has
gone into his house, where we can not see him.
5. To make him come out, put a plate in warm water until it is about
as warm as the hand. Then dip the shell into the water, and put it on
the warm, wet plate.
6. Then the snail will come out. First, he will put his head out. Then
from the front part of his head he win put out four soft horns, two
long ones and two short ones.
7. His eyes are in the ends of his long horns. When the horns are out,
if you watch close, you will see the eyes move up to the tips.
8. Next comes the body, which is soft, long, and flat. The shell is on
the back, nearer the tail than to the head. It has a spiral twist, as
is shown in the picture.
9. The snail's body, where it touches the ground when he moves, is
called the foot. When he moves, the head reaches forward first and
takes a firm hold, then the other parts come forward in turn, the tail
last.
10. The snail can not crawl over a dry place; so, when he moves, a
thick fluid comes out of his foot, moistening the surface as he passes
along.
11. As he must be saving of this fluid, in dry weather he stays at
home most of the time, and comes out only when it is wet enough to
crawl about.
12. When the cold weather comes, the snail crawls away to some quiet
place, usually under a log or a stone, draws himself into his house,
makes a door to keep out the cold, and goes to sleep until spring.