46 



men of this species would be too large for a meat dish but might be 

 able to display itself in a large sponge bath. 



If we find a small bright yellow slug, with blackish tentacles, 

 enjoying a fungus in a wood, Ave shall possibly be correct if we 

 assume that it is Liniax tenellns. Mr. Oldham exhibited some speci- 

 mens here some time ago, and kindly gave me some to take home. 

 I found them very lively and agreeable pets. Until a few years ago 

 this species was scarcely known in Britain, but now that its charac- 

 teristics and habits have been pointed out, it has been found in 

 several places. Near London it occurs in Epping Forest. On the 

 continent, where it is better known, it appears chiefly to inhabit the 

 pine forests, where I have seen them gathered about fungi in damp 

 corners. The young are said to lead a subterranean life, feeding on 

 the mycelia of fungi. When in autumn the toadstools appear above 

 the ground these slugs, then fully grown, follow them. They 

 appear to live through the winter, but the autumn is the best time 

 to look for them. 



We have another yellow species, Linia.r jiavus, but this is duller 

 and much larger than the last. It is usually four or five inches in 

 length and has bluish tentacles. I once found a giant of this species 

 at Chiswick, which measured ten inches. It is very common about 

 old houses, in cellars and gardens, so long as they are sufficiently 

 damp. Several of them may be found together. I had occasion 

 one night to visit a shed where there were some brewer's grains. 

 When a light was turned on these it revealed a large family party 

 of Liiim.i' flavus. They were of various sizes, and all very busy 

 feasting on the wet grains. It causes a very unpleasant feeling if 

 one accidentally treads on one of these large slugs in the dark, but 

 of course it is still more uncomfortable for the slug. 



Perhaps the most beautiful of all our species is Lima.v arbonim. 

 When in perfection it looks more like a delicate marine creature 

 than a land mollusc, but it is really so fond of water that it may be 

 considered amphibious. It is found on trees and rocks, and appears 

 happiest when lying half immersed in a pool of water collected 

 between the branches of a beech tree. Many old beeches have de- 

 pressions, where a branch leaves the trunk and the rain turns these 

 into aquaria. Here we may find Umax arboruw. resting on a carpet 

 of soaked leaves, sometimes quite under the water. It is two or 

 three inches long, of a delicate bluish- or even greenish-grey. The 

 skin is very transparent, so that some of the internal organs may be 

 seen through it. The shield is usually marked by a dark band 

 along the margins. In spite of its delicate aspect it appears to be a 

 hardy species. Taylor states that it is found from Iceland to 

 Tenerift'e. It occurs on hornbeams at Epping Forest. I have seen 

 it in Devonshire, but have found it most plentifully and in great 

 variety in the old beech forests on the continent. 



We now come to the most abundant European slug which every- 

 body knows, A(jriolimax af/n'stin. The old books used to make me 



