3 3^ 67/ (f// Life 



on a tree its colour and markings arc so closely in 

 harmony with its surroundings that it might be 

 regarded as part of the bark. It frequently descends 

 from brancli to branch by a thread of slime, and the 

 sexes unite while thus suspended. The Yellow Slug 

 (X. fiavus) is not really as yellow as its names 

 indicate, the appearance being largely due to its 

 yellow slime, which is said to stain linen tlie same 

 colour. But under tlie slime the animal is seen to be 

 yellowish with black spots, of a shape and disposition 

 to suggest tesselated work. The head and tentacles 

 — which are short — are bluisli. The foot is white, 

 margined with yellow. Like L. viaximus this 

 species lias no taste for green-meat. It prefers to 

 liaunt cellars, especially if meal, flour, and cream are 

 anywhere liandy. In moist woods it spends the hours 

 of da3diglit at rest under stones, coming out at even 

 and feasting upon any animal remains it can find. 

 The Field Slug (L. ayredis) is a much smaller species 

 — about IJ inches long — variable in colour, but 

 usually some asliy - grey tint mottled with dark 

 brown. The back is keeled near the tail, and the 

 plentiful slime is distinctly white, tenacious, and 

 fatty. It is one of the most destructive slugs we have, 

 viewed from the gardener's standpoint, and is well 

 worthy of the most zealous attentions at his hands — 

 and feet ! It is not averse to earthworms and insects 

 as food, but its staple diet is tender vegetables, 

 seedlings, and ripening fruit in gardens, and crops of 

 clover, peas, and oats in fields. This is the slug that 

 is taken alive or boiled in milk as a supposed cure for 

 consumption. 



The Smooth Slug {L. liuvis) is an active, glossy, 



