II FOOD OF SLUGS AND SNAILS 33 



Limax flavus^ which is fond of inhabiting the vicinity of 

 ceUars, makes its presence most disagreeable by attacking articles 

 of food, and especially by insinuating itself into vessels contain- 

 ing meal and flour.i It is particularly partial to cream. 



Slugs will sometimes bite their captor's hands. Mr. Kew 

 relates that a Limax agrestis^ on being stopped with the finger, 

 while endeavouring to escape from the attack of a large Arion^ 

 attempted to bite fiercely, the rasping action of its radula being 

 plainly felt. According to the same authority, probably all the 

 slugs will rasp the skin of the finger, if it is held out to them, 

 and continue to do so for a considerable time, without however 

 actually drawing blood.^ While Mr. Gain was handling a large 

 Avion ater^ it at once seized one of the folds of skin between the 

 fingers of the hand on which it was placed ; after the action of 

 the radula had been allowed to continue for about a minute, the 

 skin was seen to be abraded.^ Another specimen of Avion atev^ 

 carried in the hand for a long time enclosed in a dock leaf, 

 began to rasp the skin. The operation was permitted until it 

 became too painful to bear. Examination with a lens showed 

 the skin almost rasped away, and the place remained tender and 

 sore, like a slight burn, for several days.^ 



Helix pisana, if freshly caught, and placed in a box with 

 other species, will set to work and devour them within twenty- 

 four hours. The present writer has noticed it, in this position, 

 attack and kill large specimens of IT. evicetovum, cleaning them 

 completely out, and inserting its elongated body into the top 

 whorls of its unfortunate victims in a most remarkable manner. 

 Amongst a large number of species bred in captivity by Miss 

 F. M. Hele,^ was Hyalinia Dvapavnaldi. In the first summer 

 the young offspring were fed on cabbage, coltsfoot, and broad- 

 leafed docks. They would not hibernate even in the severest 

 frosts, and, no outdoor food being available, were fed on chopped 

 beef. This, Miss Hele thinks, must have degenerated their 

 appetites, for in the following spring and summer they con- 

 stantly devoured each other. 



Zonites algirus feeds on decayed fruit and vegetables, and 

 on stinking flesh.^ Achatina paiitheva has been known to eat 



1 W. G. Binney, Bull. Mus. C. Z. Harv. iv. p. 144. 2 :sratumlist, I. c. 

 3 Science Gossip, 1885, p. 154. ^ R. Standen, Journ. of Conch, vii. p. 197. 

 ^ Journ. of Conch, v, p. 43. ^ A. Paladilhe in MS. letter. 



v^OL. Ill D 



