130 LIMACIDvE. 



autumn of 1842^ ^^on rocks around Lough Carrough, 

 to the south of Castlemain Bay, Co. Kerry, in the West 

 of Ireland." Mr. Andrews informs me that it is im- 

 possible to appreciate the extreme beauty of this slug 

 without observing it in the living state. The surmise 

 offered by the authors of the ' British Mollusca/ that 

 this may be an Asturian, as well as an Irish, slug, is pro- 

 bably well founded. Morelet^s description, in 1845, of 

 his Limax anguiformis appears to have escaped their 

 notice. He especially mentions the peculiar form of 

 the slug and the position of the respiratory organ. 



Genus III. LI'MAX^ Linne. PL V. f. 4, 5. 



Body nearly cyhndrical, with a wrinkled skin, and more or 

 less keeled on the back : sliield sometimes shagreened, but in 

 most cases concentrically striate : respiratory orifice near the 

 hinder edge of the shield : reproductive orifice close to and 

 behind the right upper tentacle : foot not furnished with a 

 mucus -gland. 



Shell oval or shaped hke a finger-nail, formed of concentric 

 layers, and covered by the hinder part of the shield (Limacella, 

 Brard). 



The habits of this kind of slug are nearly the same as 

 those of Avion; but some of them appear to like the 

 company of man more than he desii'cs, being often 

 found in kitchens and domestic offices. They are, how- 

 ever, sometimes useful in eating that kind of fungus 

 which causes dry rot, and another kind which infests 

 cellars and makes choice Port wine what is termed 

 ^'^ corked." Among themselves they are also sociable, 

 and are often found clustered together in the same spot. 

 Gardeners have great cause to complain of their voracity^ 

 and especially when they see the finest strawberries have 

 been selected for their supper or early repast. 



* Slug. 



