Umax Sower In/i of Fhixssac, 6^5 



are usually adhering, while they are in this state, to their glu- 

 tinous exterior, fancy may imagine to have been rolled in dust 

 instead of magnesia. The animal in this state is almost as 

 inert as if dead, and a very fit prototype of both sluggard and 

 sluggishness. When, however, the atmosphere chvsnges to a 

 cool or moist state, the species seems soon excited from its 

 hiding places to roam abroad ; but, for roaming, prefers the 

 night to the day. I think it is impatient of a superabundance 

 of wet; for, during the late copious rains (Oct. 2 — 8.), I have 

 found many large specimens adhering to the face of a very 

 dwarf brick wall, immediately in front of which grows an 

 edging of box, which touches and hides the face of the wall, 

 and grows to about the same height. The slugs were in the 

 upper half of this wall, which is about 1 ft. high ; and behind 

 the box, and, with swarms of woodlice, seemed to have re- 

 treated there to escape the drenchings that have lately been 

 falling. 



The idea that snails and slugs are, although lovers of 

 moisture, impatient of much wet, was taught me, perhaps 

 erroneously, in very boyhood ; and the argument adduced in 

 support of this opinion was the indisputable fact, that snails, 

 during heavy rains, quit the drenched earth, and mount trees, 

 walls, &c. ; it is possible, however, to explain this act of theirs, 

 by assuming that, as all surfaces are then saturated with 

 moisture, which is a great facility to their travelling, they are 

 embracing such favourable opportunities for extending or 

 changing their range of pasture. 



Adhering to the face of the wall already named, I found, 

 on Oct. 5., two pairs in tenacious sexual conjunction : their 

 bodies were contracted to about an inch and a half in length 

 (the half of their travelling length), and curved to one side. 

 These, with many additional specimens, I collected on that day, 

 and also then sent to the Rev. L. Jenyns, SwafFham Bulbeck, 

 Cambridgeshire, from whom, I trust, a more scientific account 

 of this species than I am able to give, will be communicated 

 to our readers. The bodies of the specimens then collected 

 felt softer than they usually do, perhaps the effect of the soak- 

 ing rains; for usually there is a comparative rigidity and 

 leatheriness about the skin of this species, and which, indeed, 

 is so especially tough, that, to crush it when on the ground, 

 unless you would torture the doomed wretch, a vigorous stamp 

 of the foot on a solid spot of earth, is requisite. 



Zhnax Sowerbyf, when travelling, is really an agreeable 

 object, from its graceful lanceolate figure, neat brown hue, 

 and the straight amber line down its back formed by the 



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