Snail, Snail, come out of your Hole

Perhaps it would not be uninteresting to add to the records of the "Snail-charm" (Vol. iii, p. 132.), that in the south of Ireland, also, the same charm, with a more fanciful and less threatening burden, was used amongst us children to win from its reserve the startled and offended snail. We entreated thus:— "Shell a muddy, shell a muddy, Put out your horns, For the king's daughter is Comings to town With a red petticoat and a green gown!" I fear it is impossible to give a clue as to the meaning of the form of invocation, or who was the royal visitor, so nationally clothed, for whose sake the…