The slime of the snail is offensive to the beetle; it is safe from the latter unless crippled, half crushed, or projecting from the shell.

Its relatives, however, do not share this dislike.

The horny Procrustes, the great Scarabicus, entirely black and larger than the Carabus, attacks the snail most valiantly, and empties its shell to the bottom, in spite of the desperate secretion of slime.

It is a pity that the Procrustes is not more frequently found in our gardens; it would be an excellent gardener's assistant..