132 LIMACID/E. 



2. L. MARGiNA Tus *^ Miiller. 



L. marginatus, Miill. Verm. Hist. pt. ii. p. 10. L. Sowerbii, P. & H. iv. 

 p. 22, pi. E. E. E. f. 3. 



Body nearly cylindiical, truncate and slightly tumid in front, 

 gradually tapering to a point behind, yellowish or reddish- 

 browTi speckled with black, irregularly wrinkled : shield oblong, 

 obtusely rounded at both ends, wider and slightly truncate 

 behind, partly bordered with a dark band on each side and 

 occasionally streaked down the middle, veiy irregularly granu- 

 lated : tentacles thick, not much swollen at their tips : hack 

 having a prominent keel or ridge, which extends the whole 

 length from the hinder edge of the shield to the tail, and is of 

 a lighter colour than the rest of the body : foot pale-margined : 

 slime colourless. Dimensions same as in the last species, 



SuELL oval, thickened, with conspicuous lines of growth : 

 boss or nucleus near one end, rather prominent. L. 0-2. 

 B. 0-125. 



Habitat : Under stones, among dead leaves, and at 

 the foot of old walls everywhere. The shell or Limacella 

 has been fonnd in our upper tertiary beds. Although 

 this must be a widely diflused species, it does not appear 

 to have been noticed by any Continental writers except 

 Miiller, Moquin-Tandon, and the Abbe Stabile, accord- 

 ing to whom it inhabits Denmark and the mountainous 

 districts of France and Lugano. 



This slug is inactive in its habits and secretes a thick 

 and tenacious slime. Stabile says that it is much preyed 

 upon by the Silphce, Carabi, and other large carnivorous 

 beetles. L. marginatus is said in its turn to attack and 

 eat other animals, and especially live worms and smaller 

 slugs. 



Miiller' s description seems to be sufficient for the 

 identification of this species with that of Draparnaud 

 and subsequent authors, who have adopted the name first 

 given to it. He particularly mentions its having a white 



* Bordered. 



