Thursday, July 23, 2009

The Egg and I



(Does anyone remember that wonderful old book?)

I found several tiny (1/8" inch), perfectly round eggs on top of several small pots in which I had started seeds outdoors. At first I thought they were part of the potting mix--vermiculite or something like that. Then, because I've been battling so many destructive insects this summer, I squished a few. Then I had an attack of conscience: What if it was a spider egg? Or a beneficial insect? Or something CUTE?

I asked around, and went looking on the Internet. So far I *think* it's a snail egg. This would make sense because those pots were kept wet at all times. Snails are neither beneficial nor cute. They are also not spiders. So I feel better, at least for now. I'll keep watch and see what develops with the egg.

Of course, by the time something hatches from it, my maternal instinct will have kicked in and I'll be suffused with prolactin. Should a snail emerge from the egg, I will have no choice but to issue a whispered warning about the slug bait I have scattered all over the place. And the oat bran. And the soles of my feet, which tend to seek out slugs on the stone path.

7 comments:

The Cookbook Junkie said...

Maybe you could start your own business:

Snail egg caviar

Susan said...

Yikes!! I'm not overly squeamish, but I'm glad I wasn't eating my breakfast when I saw that.

Um . . . thanks, Paula. :-)

Eulalia Benejam Cobb said...

"Suffused with prolactin"--is that what happens to us?

Susan said...

Yup. If I remember correctly, it triggers the letdown reflex. (For those of you who didn't breastfeed, the letdown reflex has nothing to do with depression. Well, not precisely.)

Cedarwaxwing said...

How cool is that! I would not have thought about a snail egg -- although I guess they have to start somewhere.

Indigo Bunting said...

Suffused with prolactin—wonderful! Beautiful photo.

crystal said...

Snails are cute :)