I have not written anything recently on Project Snail because there has not been anything to report. After weeks of marking (first yellow then red) and hurling yellow marked snails from out of their shelter behind the laurel bush at the bottom of my yard -I'm not sure if it is laurel, it might be some kind of hardy shrub. - or carrying the red ones far away across the car park and road to what seemed to me like a much better place in a small park, they gradually stopped returning.
I was not surprised, the trek seemed almost impossible and the park an Eden demi-paradise for snails,
It was interesting to note that no new snails moved in to take over the blank patch of wall behind the laurel. It suggests that snails are surprisingly conservative and territorial creatures, but this was not enough for me to write about.
After looking at the blank wall day after day I gradually lost interest in my snails and assumed that I had been right to think that the journey back from the park was beyond the capability of anyone of the snail species.
... today as I was putting out the bins I thought I would check to see if any other snails had taken over Red and Yellow Team territory. After all there is no shortage of snails in my, and neighbouring, back yards.
I was astonished to see a solitary to see a solitary snail bearing the distinctive red mark on her shell and surrounded by a brood of tiny snails.
What an heroic journey he+she had made!
And how long had it taken?
Why it must be almost two months since I initiated Project Team Red.
Almost as extraordinary as the epic trek from Corporation Eden in the Park to the Baudelairish Artifical Paradise of my Back Yard. (Is this Amaratya Sen's theory at work among snails?) is the accuracy of the return. The patch of of wall behind the bush is only about 500cm square.
If this was archery.... bull's eye!
I know the theory says 'chemical trails'. But these would have to be chemical trails that stretch busy roads and car parks and can survive continual heavy rain.
That would be truly amazing.
I know we are used to tracker dogs following a scent trail and we often marvel at that, but this is something that makes the dog's nose a sledgehammer among nutcrackers.
Think too of what could be done if we come to fully understand how this mechanism works. I see a future where it is built into our phones and other devices, so if we loose them they can make their own way home to us.
That's just for starters.
I was so proud of my snail that I wanted to take a photograph so you could all all see her+him. However, like some wrathful and unforgiving Old Testament God I immediately sent her+him and her+his progeny flying back to the Car Park from Whence They Came.
I regret this now.
Maybe he+she will return again. It's not so far this time.
If he+she does I promise you a photo.
It's the least I can do for such an heroic gastropod.
I notice from the Google Doodle for today that it is Clara Schumann's 193rd Birthday. I have always felt that she had a very rough deal and her music deserves to be better known, so I'll leave you with this.
PS.
You will have heard on the news about the film that sparked anti-US demonstrations and led to the death in Libya. I checked it out online because I was interested after having lived in a Muslim country and believing in free speech and the right to mock religious pretentions.
This film however resembles something a racist far right group might put out. Crude and unsubtle abuse that would not be allowed under British law.
While the attacks cannot be condoned don't be led into defending this nastiness thinking it is something along the lines of The Life of Brian.
Here's Clara.