limacidjE. 217 



Fam. LIMACLD.E. 



Lingual teeth tricuspid, the marginal simple, aculeate. 

 Animal elongated, semi-cylindrical, body united to the foot. 

 Head retractile ; eye-pedicels moderate ; tentacles short, 

 club-shaped. Mantle shield-like, on the anterior and upper 

 portion of the body ; orifice of respiratory sac at the lower 

 part of mantle, on the right side. Excretory and reproduc- 

 tive apertures on the right side. Foot simple posteriorly. 



Shell internal, rudimentary. 



As shown by the researches of Mr. William Thompson, 

 the edge-teeth in this family have a long, projecting, single 

 apex, the crowns of the central teeth being tricuspid. The 

 Slugs are crepuscular or nocturnal in their habits, and are 

 chiefly herbivorous, often producing great injury to planta- 

 tions and gardens ; occasionally, however, they feed on de- 

 caying vegetables and even animal substances. They seem 

 to bear the same relation to Helicidic that TestaceUa does 

 to O/eacinidce, having a lingual dentition very similar to 

 Vitrina, but with the habit of raising the head, and ex- 

 ploring with the tentacles in the manner of the True Snails. 

 Most of them are terrestrial, living in woods and gardens, 

 coming forth when the dew is on the ground, and in the 

 evenings, especially after showers ; a few, however, are 

 arboreal, and occasionally suspend themselves by a single 

 glutinous thread to the branches of trees. 



Genus UMAX, Linnaeus. 



Body elongated, tapering behind. Mantle shield-like, on 

 the fore part of the back; orifice of respiratory sac at the 



