bulb log 42 - The answer to The Question...

[annew]

That is one mysterious snail, Ian. Are you having us on, or did it really loop under a previous trail?? Is it something to do with the number 42?

[tonyg]

I'm with you on this one Anne.  There is something fishy going on ....

[Ian Y]

42 - is I am reliably informed the answer to the universe and everything

Well spotted Anne but it is an illusion that one trail appears to go under a previous one and I have been thinking about it all night.
But my artistic slug is absolutely genuine - a one off genius perhaps.

In my printmaking I often use a technique that relies on the viscosity of inks and suspect that this may be similar. If you ink a plate with a thin ink then roll up a sticky ink it will only stick to the areas of the plate that are not covered with the runny ink.

And so the slug does not lay a slime trail when it crosses over a previously laid down one.

Any other suggestions?

[AndyStuart]

That's an interesting trail... Maybe the snail just forgot his tomato

[Maggi Young]

Welcome, Andy.

I'm going to have to confess my part in the wrigglings of that slug.... I found it the previous evening... climbing down a wall in the direction of some quality bulb fodder.... it was late, ad rather dark... I grabbed a nearby metal plant label ( one of our own, made from chopped up venetian blinds... nice sharp edges) and gave him a hefty swipe with it... he fell from the wall and I went indoors, thinking he was done for.  Next day Ian spots the patterns and, as well as the very obvious trails you see in the pictures... there was also a lighter trail... leading from where my supposedly dead slug fell the night before. It seems I only wounded him and he crawled off and made these rather fab tracings as he went.... perhaps his injuries resulted in the extra patterns.... who knows.... trying hard to feel guilty about maiming him instead of  dispatch with a quick death.... but he has gone to the great lettuce patch in the sky now.... for sure.