He distributes them methodically, without hurrying, and takes a brief rest after each of them, as though he wished to ascertain the effect produced.

Their number is not great: half a dozen, at most, to subdue the prey and deprive it of all power of movement.

That other pinches are administered later, at the time of eating, seems very likely, but I cannot say anything for certain, because the sequel escapes me.

The first few, however--there are never many--are enough to impart inertia and loss of all feeling to the Mollusc, thanks to the prompt, I might almost say lightning, methods of the Lampyris, who, beyond a doubt, instils some poison or other by means of his grooved hooks.
Here is the proof of the sudden efficacy of those twitches, so mild in appearance: I take the Snail from the Lampyris, who has operated on the edge of the mantle some four or five times.

I prick him with a fine needle in the fore-part, which the animal, shrunk into its shell, still leaves exposed.