45 



who discovered it in Teneriffe in 1796. It dififers from the other 

 two bj' its large shell. In the other two the shell is more or less 

 flat and shield-like, but in maiKjei it is convex and shell-like. Then 

 again the lateral grooves are widely separated when leaving the 

 shell. The animal is generally of a brown colour, paler at the sides. 

 Mr. Taylor shows by the internal organisation of this species that it 

 is the most primitive of our three species, and that its chief home 

 now is along the western coastal regions of Europe. 



We now come to the slugs proper, which are chiefly vegetable 

 feeders, though many of them will eat animal matter when oppor- 

 tunity offers. Of these we have two distinct families, the Limacidae 

 and the AriiDiidae. In the former the opening of the respiratory 

 chamber lies behind the middle of the margin of the shield, while in 

 the Arions the opening is situated in the anterior of the margin just 

 before the middle. This is perhaps the most obvious distinction, 

 but there are other points in which they differ both in their external 

 and internal organisation. Limax has a thin but distinct shell 

 which has been found in a fossil state. While Ariun only has a few 

 calcarious granules, but even these have been reported as found in. 

 the Pleistocene beds. 



Limax niaxinnta is a fine animal, reaching a length of five inches- 

 or more, generally of a brownish or yellowish grey with dark lines 

 or spots. The shield is also marked with irregular black spots. The 

 dorsal keel is not prominent except towards the tail and the foot- 

 sole is unicolorous. Like the other slugs, it may be found under 

 logs and stones, but from its large size it requires a more extensive^ 

 shelter than the common garden slug. When coiled up it has 

 reminded me of a small snake. When at rest it often has the upper 

 pair of tentacles just protruding, as though it slept with half an eye 

 open. Its favourite habitat seems to be old gardens or meadows 

 near farms. It shows itself to great advantage when gliding over a 

 large meat dish. We can then note its long and slender tentacles. 



If size and beauty were regal qualities then the next species, 

 Limax cineren-nif/er, might be called the "King of European slugs," 

 as it is said to reach over a foot in length, and is often brilliantly 

 coloured in southern Europe. The form most often occurring in 

 Britain is blackish with a dull yellow keel running along the back 

 to the tail. It may be known from L. viaxiwiis by the foot-sole 

 being longitudinally marked by a pale band down the centre, while 

 this is bordered on each side by a distinctly darker tint. The shield 

 is generally unicolorous. It is not a common species, and seems to 

 be of a wilder and more hardy disposition than the last, preferring 

 open hilly country, such as Yorkshire and North Wales. It has,, 

 however, occurred in Sussex and as far north as Sutherland in 

 Scotland Near London it has been taken at Burnham Beeches 

 and in Epping Forest. It will be remembered that ^Ir. Priske 

 exhibited a nice example from the latter locality at our last meeting. 

 I have seen them in Switzerland and the Tyrol. A very fine sped- 



