ARION. 77 



shaped lump. They are very prolific, and usually 

 deposit their eggs below the ground. 



I. Arion a'ter,* LiNNfi. Pl. VI. 



Body very convex above, somewhat contracted and rounded 

 in front, pointed behind, colour very variable, black, choco- 

 late-brown, reddish, yellowish, greenish, or sometimes whitish, 

 tubercles large and prominent ; iiiantle finely shagreened ; toi- 

 tacles separated at their base, strongly granulated, bulbs consider- 

 ably swollen ; foot sparsely covered with large angular tubercles, 

 and margined with a band which is usually yellow with dark 

 transverse lines ; slime yellowish. Length 3-5 inches. 



Shell consisting of disunited calcareous granules which are 

 unequal in size and of a roundish or oval form. 



Inhabits woods, fields, hedgerows, gardens, and 

 moist places, in all parts of the British Isles. 



It breeds in May and June ; the eggs, which are 

 oval and semitransparent, vary in number from fifteen 

 to sixty, and are deposited in holes in the ground, at 

 the roots of plants, under stones, or among decom- 

 posing vegetable matter. 



This species, in common with other members of the 

 family, is frequently infested with small parasites, 

 which enter and take up their abode within the respi- 

 ratory cavity, sallying forth from time to time for air 

 and exercise upon the body of the slug, which seems 

 to be in no way disturbed by the intrusion of the self- 

 invited guests. 



2. A. FLAVUS,t MiJLLER. 



Body slender, smaller, but proportionally more capable of 

 elongation than A. ater^ of a grey colour, the sides and mantle 

 sometimes tinged with yellow, head and neck slate-colour or 



* Black. t Yellow. 



