Tender Shell
Tender 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.
 |
Marx 1829 Steamer with SF Tender and SFCaboose 4427 VG |  |
 |
US $144.99 | 5h 54m |
 |
MLR 238E Torpedo Loco 18052 | |
0 Bid | US $590.00 | 10h 41m |
 |
American Flyer 21160 Atlantic Loco VG Runs S | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 11h 50m |
 |
Lionel 773 Steam Engine with 2426W Tender | |
0 Bid | US $890.00 | 12h 32m |
 |
Lionel O gauge 6466W tender | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 12h 45m |
 |
Prewar Lionel O Gauge No263E Steam Engine To Restore | |
9 Bids | US $104.01 | 13h 39m |
 |
38 39 PreWar Lionel Train Set 767W w 763E Hudson | |
8 Bids | US $760.00 | 14h 8m |
 |
Lionel O Scale 258 Steam Engine 1689W Tender 1941 | |
0 Bid | US $54.99 | 14h 57m |
 |
MARX 400 WIND UP STEAM LOCO AND TENDER 027 GAUGE NICE | |
0 Bid | US $1.99 | 15h 15m |
 |
AMERICAN FLYER 283 OR 21085 PACIFIC LOCOMOTIVE TENDER | |
4 Bids | US $18.57 | 15h 36m |
 |
American Flyer Lines 332 4 8 4 UP Locomotive | |
6 Bids | US $132.50 | 15h 39m |
 |
RCR MDC SANTA FE STYLE TENDER SHELLS SIX 6 PIECES | |
1 Bid | US $4.99 | 16h 19m |
 |
Lionel 671 6 8 6 Steamer with 671WX Whistle Tender | |
0 Bid | US $99.99 | 16h 24m |
 |
Lionel 2065 4 6 4 Hudson | |
1 Bid | US $74.99 | 16h 25m |
 |
Lionel 2026 2 6 2 Steamer with 6466W Tender | |
0 Bid | US $74.99 | 16h 25m |
 |
Lionel 1666 2 6 2 Steamer with 2466WX Whistle Tender | |
0 Bid | US $74.99 | 16h 25m |
 |
Athearn Genesis Steam Engine Tender Shell Mint | |
0 Bid | US $7.00 | 16h 25m |
 |
Reproduction shell to fit Lionel whistle coal tenders | |
0 Bid | US $9.95 | 16h 34m |
 |
Lionel 2671WX 12 wheel whistle tender Pennsylvania RR | |
5 Bids | US $32.00 | 16h 34m |
 |
American Flyer Tender Shell for 293 XA12A081RP NOS | |
3 Bids | US $9.50 | 16h 50m |
 |
MTH 20 2185 1 Union Pacific Veranda Turbine w PS EX | |
13 Bids | US $177.50 | 17h 1m |
 |
Proto 2000 HO Heritage STEAM LOCO BONE YARD FIX PARTS | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 17h 8m |
 |
HO SHELL COAL TENDER RAILROAD TRAIN CAR DIE CAST | |
|
US $1.15 | 17h 8m |
 |
Lionel 8140 Postwar 0 4 0 Steam Locomotive Tender | |
0 Bid | US $15.95 | 17h 15m |
 |
N Scale Canadian National Metal 2 6 0 Mogul Steam Loco | |
|
US $76.99 | 17h 40m |
 |
AMERICAN FLYER METAL TENDER SHELL HO SCALE NYC | |
1 Bid | US $.99 | 22h 21m |
 |
HO SCALE 0 4 0 CAMEL RESTORE UP DIESEL 0 4 0 SANTA FE | |
1 Bid | US $12.00 | 1d 11h 4m |
 |
Spectrum Pennsylvania 4 6 2 K 4 steam loco tender KD | |
|
US $64.99 | 1d 11h 34m |
 |
Lionel 2016 And Tender | |
1 Bid | US $.99 | 1d 11h 37m |
 |
Ten IHC HO Used Tender Shells | |
1 Bid | US $2.99 | 9h 4m |
 |
HO Scale RR Train Undecorated Steam Locomotive Tender | |
0 Bid | US $7.99 | 1d 13h 45m |
 |
Lionel POSTWAR Big STREAMLINED TENDER 2046W Exc | |
|
US $79.50 | 1d 13h 49m |
 |
Lionel Replacement TENDER SHELL 1666T 2224W 2020W | |
1 Bid | US $13.75 | 1d 13h 52m |
 |
Lionel Vintage 1949 1110 Scout Scout Loco Tender NR | |
5 Bids | US $9.38 | 9h 51m |
 |
American Flyer 312 Tender Shell | |
0 Bid | US $.99 | 1d 14h 30m |
 |
Lionel 726 Berkshire 2 8 4 Steam Locomotive EX | |
8 Bids | US $105.50 | 1d 15h 48m |
 |
Lionel No 392E Engine with 392T Tender | |
0 Bid | US $650.00 | 1d 16h 3m |
 |
N Scale Canadian National Metal USRA 2 8 2 Mikado Steam | |
|
US $69.99 | 1d 17h |
 |
Lionel 736 2 8 4 Berkshire Steam Locomotive Only EX | |
8 Bids | US $111.00 | 1d 17h 26m |
 |
HO SCALE UNION PACIFIC MAINTENANCE OF WAY CRANE CAR MOW | |
0 Bid | US $4.99 | 16h 21m |
 |
Pre War Lionel Train Set | |
0 Bid | US $250.00 | 4h 15m |
 |
MTH TINPLATE STANDARD GAUGE IVES 1134 STEAM ENGINE MIB | |
0 Bid | US $549.99 | 2d 9h 48m |
 |
HO MTH Union Pacific Challenger 3977 Proto Sound 30 | |
|
US $679.95 | 25d 3h 20m |
 |
SANTA FE HUDSON SHELL TENDER | |
0 Bid | US $15.00 | 1d 6h 37m |
 |
Unknown manufacturer old tyme steam engine tender 84 | |
|
US $10.99 | 2d 11h 37m |
 |
American Flyer Reading 302 Metal Tender w E unit Nice | |
3 Bids | US $16.50 | 2d 12h 6m |
 |
AMERICAN FLYER ERIE NO 21165 LOCOMOTIVE COAL TENDER | |
0 Bid | US $19.99 | 2d 12h 24m |
 |
LIONEL POSTWAR 2020 STEAM ENGINE TENDER ATOMIC MOTOR | |
1 Bid | US $49.99 | 2d 12h 56m |
 |
Lionel 6066T Tender OB | |
0 Bid | US $20.00 | 2d 15h 4m |
 |
Unknown manufacturer CPRR old tyme steam engine tender | |
|
US $10.99 | 2d 15h 20m |
 |
LIONEL TRAINS POSTWAR 2056 DIECAST ENGINE 2046W TEND | |
0 Bid | US $164.99 | 2d 15h 39m |
 |
Tender Shell 1666T 4 Made in Korea Never mounted | |
|
US $14.99 | 1d 11h 23m |
 |
Tender Shell Pennsylania Never mounted madein Korea | |
|
US $4.99 | 1d 11h 27m |
 |
Marx 3991 Diecast Tender VG Restored 8 Wheeled Metal | |
0 Bid | US $45.99 | 2d 15h 51m |
 |
NEW HO 0 8 0 STEAM SWITCHER CHESAPEAKE OHIO | |
0 Bid | US $69.99 | 2d 16h |
 |
Vintage Marklin HO Train Set No 2875 | |
19 Bids | US $127.50 | 11h 1m |
 |
LIONEL TRAINS 2046W 2671W PENNSYLVANIA TENDER SHELL NEW | |
1 Bid | US $9.99 | 2d 16h 12m |
 |
LIONEL TRAINS 746 NORFOLK WESTERN TENDER SHELL NEW | |
0 Bid | US $9.99 | 2d 16h 12m |
 |
TENDER LADDER FOR IHC TENDER SHELL NEW REPAIR PART | |
0 Bid | US $4.99 | 2d 17h 9m |
 |
TENDER LIGHT FOR IHC TENDER SHELL NEW REPAIR PART | |
0 Bid | US $4.99 | 2d 17h 10m |
 |
UP 0 8 0 UNION PACIFIC YARD SWITCHER IHC 23733 NEW | |
0 Bid | US $59.99 | 2d 17h 13m |
 |
0 8 0 MERIDIAN BIGBEE RIVER RR SWITCHER IHC 23762 NEW | |
0 Bid | US $59.99 | 2d 17h 18m |
 |
MTH Premier 20 2185 1 Union Pacific UP Veranda Turbine | |
0 Bid | US $329.99 | 2d 17h 25m |
 |
LIONEL 1130 TENDER SHELL FOR SOUTHERN RAILWAYS | |
0 Bid | US $10.00 | 2d 17h 52m |
 |
ATHEARN HO SD45 RIO GRANDE UP LOCO NCE DCC TRAIN LAYOUT | |
0 Bid | US $24.99 | 2d 18h 44m |
 |
Tyco HO Scale Chattanooga Choo Choo Train Set | |
2 Bids | US $28.99 | 16h 24m |
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
Tags: crabs, mangusta_projekt, templates, tender, work@shell/pl0