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Feb., 1908.] Some Notes on Philomycus. 265 



SOME NOTES ON PHILOMYCUS. 



V. Sterki. 



Philomycidffi is a family of nearctic shelless land snails, or 

 slugs. There has been a great deal of controversy with respect 

 to the generic names, and also discussion on some of the species. 

 The genus Philomycus was proposed by Rafinesque as "differing 

 from Limax by no visible mantle." That was a mistake: the 

 mantle covers the whole body except the front part of the head 

 when the animal is extended, and a narrow seam along the sides 

 of the sole. For that reason the genus was not recognized by 

 Binney and other authors, and Tebennophonis Binney took its 

 place. Yet, no one doubts now that Philomycus really means 

 the same, and it is but just to revert to the earlier name. Raf- 

 inesque also established the genus Eumelus as distinct from 

 Philomycus by the position of the tentacles, a feature which 

 seems unintelligible. Later, E. S. Morse established the genus 

 Pallifera on the ground that the jaw of Ph. dor sails is strongly 

 ribbed, odontognathous, while that of Ph. caroliniensis is smooth, 

 and somewhat oxygnathous. But other species show inter- 

 mediate forms. 



These interesting slugs are still insufficiently known, as to 

 both their systematic position and distribution, and it is very 

 desirable that they be worked up from good material. Students 

 of nature are respectfully and urgentl}^ invited to collect spec- 

 imens wherever encountered, and to send them for examination, 

 living if possible, with a little damp moss, or alcoholic, (in which 

 condition, however, they are badly contracted). They are 

 mostly found retired, under loose bark and in cavities of dead 

 tree trunks and stumps, preferably in damp, shady places. At 

 night, they sometimes ascend trees. They may be found also in 

 winter time, during open weather; entomologists and collectors 

 of cryptogams thus may have chances to take the slugs. It is 

 hardly necessary to say that they are not venomous and cannot 

 bite, as is believed by some people. 



For the benefit of those who collect them, and naturally 

 want some information about them, it may be in place to add a 

 few notes with respect to the species and forms which have been 

 seen from Ohio or can be expected to be found in the state. 



As pointed out, Philomycus is distinguished from Limax by 

 the mantle extending over almost the whole body, while in the 

 latter genus it covers only about the anterior half. Besides, 

 there are other morphological and anatomical differences. 



1. Ph. caroliniensis Bosc. (Limax caroliniensis Bosc, 

 Tebennophorus caroliniensis, in Binney, etc.), regarded as the 

 type, attains a length of 100 millimeters when extended, but 



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