Tender Shell
Thursday, March 27th, 2008Tender Shell

Snips and Snails!
Like most gardeners I suspect, I find that the snail is a perennial problem. No sooner do the days warm up and carefully tended shoots emerge then .... so do the snails and, unless prompt action is taken .... no more plants!
I try to garden organically as much as possible, and my preferred method of control is to go into the garden either early in the morning or late in the evening when they are most active, collect them up, and chuck them over the hedge onto a patch of waste ground about 100 yds away. They probably migrate back again - I've often thought of marking their shells in some way to see how many times I'm chucking the same snail in one season! But on the whole I've better things to do, like turn the compost heap!
Anyway, it was while I was gathering up the most recent snail heap that I began to ponder upon the nature of these gastropodian nuisances. I did a bit of reading and realised that snails are actually very well designed to fill their ecological niche.
I took myself off to the local library and spent some time studying a natural history book, which had a particularly comprehensive snail section. From this I learned that snails have been on this planet for a very long time, much longer than us. They are cold-blooded creatures who cannot regulate their body temperatures. But they can withdraw into their shells and secrete a temporary waterproof lid over the opening. They can even fit double glazing if the weather becomes very cold. But they can't ever leave home. Their bodies and shells are permanently fused - think how hard a thrush has to work to extract the juicy snail innards from its tough outer casing.
The snail's shell grows as its body grows and the whorls turn clockwise. If you ever find one that turns anticlockwise then it's literally a one-in-a-million event!
All we ever see of the snail is its head and foot. A snail foot is like nothing else on earth, simply something muscular to move with on its own thin ribbon of excreted mucus. It moves slowly, but safely and although it doesn't like rough surfaces such as gravel, it can still move over them without harm gliding on its mucus.
As I know to my cost, snails will eat lettuce and strawberries and all manner of tender and soft garden plants. But, it's not personal, a snail is just as happy feeding on garden rubbish and weeds. It has - wait for it - no fewer than 14,000 teeth. Its eyes are on the end of its tentacles, the longer, posterior ones, which it can pull into its body if touched.
Snails are a useful food source for other creatures such as thrushes, hedgehogs, mice and shrews. Beetles and glow-worms eat them and so do 65 different species of British fly. People eat them too - but I've never quite been that hungry!
So there you have it - the common or garden snail - an interesting creature, but one which is still doomed to end up the other side of my hedge if caught molesting my hostas!
About the Author
Ellie Dixon lives in deepest rural Devon, England with her husband and two very large Newfoundland dogs. She is passionate about vintage illustrated children's books and loves to restore and edit them for today's kids to rediscover.
Visit Kids of Character", a unique range of beautiful illustrated books and fun activities all designed to help parents grow responsible, trustworthy kids of good character, or for even more great books visit Scruffy's Bookshop, Ellie's main website.
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Lionel POSTWAR 2046 Big 4 6 4 HUDSON STEAM ENGINE | ![]() |
26 Bids | US $59.00 | 10h 23m |
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ORIGINAL PRE WAR TENDER 2224T FOR REFURBISHMENT | ![]() |
2 Bids | US $12.50 | 11h 13m |
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HO Scale Lot of three Shell Cars Tanker Coal Tender and Caboose | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 11h 15m |
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Lionel 2671 Tender SHELL ONLY NO RESERVE | ![]() |
1 Bid | US $.99 | 13h 2m |
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Lionel Tender SHELL ONLY NO RESERVE | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 13h 8m |
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LIONEL 6026 REPRODUCTION TENDER SHELL New York Central | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $1.99 | 13h 26m |
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Lionel and Bachman Trains Engines Rolling Stock and other items Estate Sale | ![]() |
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US $2,000.00 | 13h 36m |
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WEAVER BRASS O 4 6 2 PACIFIC P 7D CINCINNATIAN BALTIMORE OHIO 5303 W SOUND | ![]() |
16 Bids | US $182.50 | 14h 3m |
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WEAVER BRASS O 4 6 2 PACIFIC JOHN WILKES LEHIGH VALLEY 2102 W SOUND | ![]() |
12 Bids | US $330.00 | 14h 4m |
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Lionel postwar 2466wx whistle tender | ![]() |
5 Bids | US $12.99 | 14h 13m |
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1950s LIONEL 736 Steam Engine and a 2671W Tender | ![]() |
13 Bids | US $116.50 | 14h 15m |
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Lionel 7795 0 8 0 New York Central Steam Engine 6 30103 Trainsounds Tender | ![]() |
1 Bid | US $75.00 | 15h 9m |
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AMERICAN FLYER READING LINES TENDER WITH DIRECTION CONTROL | ![]() |
8 Bids | US $18.50 | 19h 23m |
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Marx Army Train Loco 666 Lighted Smoker Excellent Restored | ![]() |
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US $60.99 | 19h 23m |
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MANTUA HO Canadian Pacific 4 6 2 Train Set Metal Locomotive | ![]() |
9 Bids | US $33.00 | 19h 35m |
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HO AHM 4 6 2 SP Southern Pacific | ![]() |
1 Bid | US $25.00 | 20h 3m |
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LARGE LOT VINTAGE ATHEARN MARX MANTUA TYCO ZENITH AND MORE | ![]() |
6 Bids | US $40.00 | 21h 58m |
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Vintage HO Casey Jones Steam Locomotive 4 6 0 with Tender Box Instructions | ![]() |
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US $125.00 | 1d 1m |
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Lionel 239 2 4 2 Loco w Slope Back Tender Die Cast Smoke EXC | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $39.99 | 1d 4h 12m |
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Misc Lionel O Scale Locomotive 242 8040 8300 9448 Parts Tenders Parts | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $22.95 | 1d 11h 35m |
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American Flyer 302 Engine with Tender Reading Lines Train NO RESERVE | 6 Bids | US $19.35 | 1d 11h 56m |
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AMERICAN FLYER FRANKLIN TENDER SHELL SMOKE UNIT FRONT PILOT | ![]() |
7 Bids | US $18.50 | 1d 12h 19m |
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LIONEL 2671W 6 Tender BO Baltimore Ohio | ![]() |
2 Bids | US $12.50 | 1d 12h 53m |
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LIONEL 1935 MICKEY MOUSE 1508 WINDUP ENGINE AND 1509 TENDER READ BEFORE BIDDING | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $329.99 | 1d 13h 52m |
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Vintage Lionel 726 Berkshire 2 8 4 w 2046w Whistle Tender TLC | ![]() |
6 Bids | US $132.50 | 1d 13h 54m |
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LIONEL 8506 DIE CAST PENN RR STEAM SWITCHER TENDER | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $14.95 | 1d 14h 4m |
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Lionel 8002 Union Pacific 2 8 4 Berkshire FARR 2 Loco w Sound TLC | ![]() |
3 Bids | US $89.00 | 1d 14h 24m |
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Vintage Lionel 224 Prairie 2 6 2 Loco w 1666T Whistle Tender TLC | ![]() |
1 Bid | US $49.99 | 1d 14h 34m |
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Lional 6110 Locomotive 233 Coal Tender | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $69.00 | 1d 14h 37m |
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Z scale 2x 8 wheel loco coal tenders loco truck 4x buffers 0 6 0 shell | ![]() |
1 Bid | US $19.99 | 1d 14h 46m |
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BEC KITS TT GAUGE LNER J72 CLASS TANK LOCO in original box | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $78.74 | 1d 15h 4m |
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HO SCALE COAL TENDER LOT | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $8.00 | 1d 15h 10m |
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MILWAUKEE ROAD S3 4 8 4 Northern shells | ![]() |
6 Bids | US $46.51 | 1d 15h 31m |
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Lionel POSTWAR Old Time TENDER 1862 for GENERAL STEAM ENGINES | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $24.00 | 1d 15h 46m |
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American Flyer Lot 1 | ![]() |
4 Bids | US $10.50 | 1d 16h 29m |
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Lionel 18503 Southern Pacific NW 2 Switcher Shell New | ![]() |
2 Bids | US $59.95 | 1d 17h |
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Marx NEW YORK CENTRAL 3 8 WHEELS Black WEDGE 4 Axle Tinplat TENDER PARTS Resto1 | ![]() |
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US $11.00 | 1d 17h 24m |
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Marx NEW YORK CENTRAL SHELL ONLY Black WEDGE 4 Axle Tinplate TENDER PARTS Resto2 | ![]() |
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US $5.50 | 1d 17h 25m |
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Lot 2 tenders Reading Lines American Flyer train trains for parts repair | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 1d 17h 43m |
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302 engine loco American Flyer train trains for parts repair | ![]() |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 1d 17h 45m |
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300 engine loco American Flyer train trains for parts repair | ![]() |
3 Bids | US $13.50 | 1d 17h 47m |
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Lot 2 tenders American Flyer train trains Reading Lines for parts repair | ![]() |
2 Bids | US $11.50 | 1d 17h 52m |
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Lot 2 tenders American Flyer trains AFL Reading Northwestern for parts repair | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 1d 17h 56m |
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American Flyer odds and ends | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $7.99 | 1d 18h 10m |
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Lionel 2671 tender shell | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 1d 18h 23m |
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ONE CHICAGO NORTHWESTERN TENDER SHELL | ![]() |
1 Bid | US $4.99 | 1d 18h 34m |
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Lot 3 tender pieces Reading Line American Flyer trains train for parts or repair | ![]() |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 1d 18h 38m |
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Lionel 1130 27 Pennsylvania PRR SHELL ONLY TENDER PARTS Restore Runner Rough | ![]() |
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US $3.30 | 1d 18h 39m |
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Lot 3 Reading Northwestern tender American Flyer trains for parts or repair | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 1d 18h 42m |
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Lot of 2 tender pieces Reading American Flyer trains for parts or repair | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 1d 18h 45m |
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4 piece lot tender American Flyer trains for parts or repair | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 1d 18h 48m |
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LIONEL 6 18754 POLAR EXPRESS 2 8 4 BERKSHIRE w Sound Whistle Smk Die Cast Tndr | ![]() |
1 Bid | US $99.00 | 1d 18h 49m |
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Lionel 1948 1949 Steam Engine 2 6 2 2026 O 27 AND 6466WX Tender | ![]() |
1 Bid | US $37.50 | 1d 18h 50m |
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LIONEL 243W WHISTLE TENDER LIONEL LINES WHITE LETTERING EXCELLENT | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $29.99 | 1d 19h 4m |
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Vintage Atlas Rivarossi 1969 USRA 2 8 2 Mikado Tender Underframe | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 1d 19h 16m |
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Lionel 2056 Postwar 4 6 4 Steam Locomotive and 2046W Tender RUN SOUND GREAT | ![]() |
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US $150.00 | 1d 19h 33m |
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Lionel 736 Berkshire locomotive with 2046W whistle tender | ![]() |
2 Bids | US $152.50 | 1d 19h 34m |
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Lot MANTUA HO Northern Pacific 2 8 4 Metal Locomotive and Cars | ![]() |
5 Bids | US $36.00 | 1d 19h 56m |
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LIONEL 736 BERKSHIRE STEAM LOCOMOTIVE 2671WX WHISTLE TENDER EXCL NO RSV | ![]() |
18 Bids | US $177.77 | 1d 20h 27m |
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Lionel 8213T Rio Grande Tender Shell NOS | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $6.99 | 1d 21h 2m |
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LIONEL POSTWAR 6026W TENDER W BOX FOR REPAIR OR PARTS | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $25.00 | 20h 14m |
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lionel Northfolk and Western cast iron Tender rail sounds for 612 loco | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $49.99 | 1d 22h 33m |
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Lionel Prewar 2666w tender with whistle | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 1d 22h 33m |
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c31 DURHAN Tender for 8801 Battery Operated Steam Eng | ![]() |
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US $2.20 | 1d 23h 8m |
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AS12 TINPLATE Steam Engine TENDER SHELL ONLY PARTS AF America Flyer | ![]() |
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US $3.30 | 1d 23h 12m |
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LIONEL 385E Standard Gauge Steam Engine PLUS TRACK | ![]() |
0 Bid | US $250.00 | 2d 7h 47m |
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