1899] SNAIL-SLUG. 129 



examination, proved to be of T. haliotidea, with the observation that 

 they had been found that morning by the gardener at the root of a 

 Rose. This Rose tree was not in the open ground, but nailed against 

 a wall, and the Snail-slugs were found wider the roots. 



On receipt of the specimens I laid them on some damp earth, 

 sprinkling a little earth over them, so as to place them in fairly natural 

 circumstances, and supplied them with a few live Earthworms. On 

 examination on the following morning (May 1st), I found one of the 

 Snail- slugs on the surface of the soil, so firmly attached to one of the 

 Earthworms, which it had torn open, that I repeatedly lifted up the 

 Slug by raising the Earthworm. It was somewhat contracted in shape, 

 but, after letting go its hold of its prey, it drew itself up so as to be only 

 about an inch in length, and consequently thickened to about half an 

 inch in breadth, and three-eighths of an inch in height at the middle, 

 thus assuming a somewhat arched figure,* highest in the middle, and 

 lowest at the ends when seen sideways. The under surface, technically 

 known as the foot, was flat. 



The other Snail-slug was contracted as if dead, but presently 

 extended itself again, and protruded its tentacles, commonly known 

 as its horns. 



These two specimens of T. haliotidea, Draparnaud, resembled the 

 variety scutuhim, Sowerby, in colouring, the body being of a yellow 

 colour speckled with dark brown, rather than of "yellowish brown," 

 variously speckled or mottled. The body below was of a rich yellow 

 orange. The shell, however, did not appear to be certainly narrower 

 than that of haliotidea. As there is great variety both in the colouring 

 and form of the shell of the Snail-slug, it was difficult to say certainly 

 whether the specimens were of T. haliotidea or var. scutulum, but, as 

 this variety is mentioned by Mr. Sowerby as occurring in many parts 

 of the Metropolitan district, it may be of interest just to allude to the 

 different colouring. 



The specimens, when ordinarily extended, were about two inches 

 in length (see fig. 1, p. 126). 



The persistence of attack of the Snail-slug on the Worm agreed 

 with the account given by Prof. Jeffreys in his detailed observations 

 (referred to at p. 128, preceding) of the habits of the Testacellce as 

 Worm-hunters. Here he mentions, amongst much interesting detail, 

 the Snail-slugs hunt underground, and seize a Worm by the middle, 

 and when the writhings have been succeeded by exhaustion they 

 detach and swallow a part of the Worm, and when it has been 

 digested finish their meal with the other portion. " For this purpose 

 its mouth is furnished with an apparatus of sharp recurved teeth, 



* See figure 2, p. 126. 



