10 TEST ACE A ATLANTIC A. 



Grenus 2. LIMAX, Linne. 



Limax gagates. 



Limax gagates, Drap., Hist. Nat. 122. pi. 9. f. 1, 2 (1805) 

 „ „ Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 162 (1854) 



„ „ Alb., Mai. Mad. 12. t. 1. f. 3-5 (1854) 



„ „ Morel, Hist. Nat. des Agor. 139 (1860) 



„ „ Drouet, Faun. Agor. 141 (1861) 



„ „ Paiva, Mon. Moll. Mad. 3 (1867) 



Habitat ins. omnes (sec. Morelet et Drouet) ; sub lapidibus 

 vulgaris. 



This European slug, which is extremely common in the 

 Madeiran archipelago, and which has become naturalised even 

 at St. Helena, appears to be universal at the Azores according to 

 Morelet and Drouet — who cite it as inhabiting every island of 

 the group. 



The strongly carinated, longitudinally sulcate body of the 

 L. gagates (the keel of which extends from the extreme end of 

 the tail to the hinder margin of the shield), and its more or less 

 oclireous-black, or sometimes cinereous-brown, hue, added to its 

 not very large size (its greatest length being seldom more than 

 about an inch), and the two rather conspicuous gi'ooves (sepa- 

 rated by a raised line) at the top of its neck, will sufficiently 

 distinguish it. 



Limax maximus. 



Limax maximus, Linn., Syst. Nat. (ed. 12) 1081 (1767) 



„ cinereus, Mull., Verm. Hist. ii. 5 (1774) 



„ antiquorum, var. s., Fer., Tabl. Syst. 20 (1821) 



„ cinereus, Lowe, Proc. Zool. Soc. Lond. 162 (1854) 



„ antiquorum. Alb., Mai. Mad. 12. t. 1. f. 2 (1854) 



„ maximus. Morel., Hist. Nat. des Agor. 138 (1860) 

 „ „ Drouet, Faun. Agor. 140 (1861) 



„ cinereus, Paiva, Mon. Moll. Mad. 4 (1867) 



Habitat ins. omnes (testibus Morelet et Drouet). 



The European L. rtiaximus, which has become established 

 at Madeira, appears to have also been naturalised in the Azorean 

 archipelago, — where, like the L. gagates and agrestis and the 

 Arion ater and subfuscus, it is said by Morelet and Drouet to 

 occur on every island of the group. 



The L. maximus is a species which is extremely variable in 

 size, and a good deal also both in colour and markings ; but 

 normally it is more maculated, or blotched, than the generality 

 of the Limaces, — its surface (which is usually of a pale brownish- 

 cinereous hue, with the shield a trifle lighter, and with a faint 



