A Winter Retreat

Abstract

MR. GEORGE GILBERT, a market-gardener in Stonehaven, has shown me a curious phenomenon which I have not met with before, and which, I think, deserves to be recorded. About the beginning of November a number of children were playing at a tea-party, and they left among the herbaceous plants at the side of the walk an earthenware tea-pot, the dimensions of which were 4 inches by 3 inches. A few days ago the old tea-pot was discovered lying on its side and without a lid. In the interior, closely packed, were no fewer than thirty-seven of the common garden shelled-snail, and when ejected they were found to be all alive. They had spent the months in their winter retreat. Probably gardeners know that they can trap snails in some such way; at all events, one often finds snails in confined spaces and sheltered nooks. Still, the question arises, What led one mollusc to follow the others? Is it the sense of smell? What attracted no fewer than thirty-seven to this old tea-pot, probably a very snug and safe place? Still, there is a danger in being in a crowd. One can imagine how delighted a sea-gull would have been to have discovered this larder of fresh meat!