180 SNAIL-SLUG. [1899 



which enables the Testacella to retain a firm hold of its victim, and 

 swallow it more easily." 



On Sept. 21st, 1897, I received a short note from a correspondent 

 (living at Aylesbury, Bucks) mentioning, in the course of other 

 communication : — 



" I may say that we dug up in the spring an unusual number of 

 Slugs, owing, I presume, to the mildness of the late winter and absence 

 of frost. We found two or three specimens of a hard Slug with a 

 small Worm half down his throat. I was not aware they lived on 

 these things." — (J. W.) 



Here we have another illustration of the habits of the Snail-slugs 

 of living underground and preying on Worms. In this instance, as I 

 did not see specimens, I cannot tell which of the two species of Testa- 

 ctila that are found in Britain might be referred to. Only two distinct 

 species are recorded, namely, T. haliotidea, which is by far the best 

 known, and T. mauaei of Ferussac, which is noted as being found 

 established during a long course of years at the gardens of a nursery 

 firm at Bristol, and likewise at a garden at Swansea occasionally 

 supplied from the above gardens, likewise at a few other places. This 

 species has a smaller head, as well as " a much lanjer and more convex 

 [almost semi-cylindrical) shell than haliotidea." — (J. G. J.) 



On April 25th in the past year (1899), I was kindly favoured by 

 Miss F. Curtis with the following observation on presence of Snail- 

 slugs in the gardens at Potterill, Hatfield, Herts, which it will be 

 seen embodies in a few words three noticeable points regarding their 

 habits — namely, that they are constantly present in the earth, but 

 hide in the daytime ; likewise that they have been observed in the act of 

 swallowing Worms. In Miss Curtis's own words : — " The gardeners 

 constantly find them in the earth, and have seen them swallow Worms, 

 but they generally hide in the daytime." 



In reply to my enquiries whether Miss Ciu'tis could be good enough 

 to furnish me with any more information on the subject, she mentioned 

 that the gardener, who was the special observer of the Testacellce, 

 said : — 



" They never saw any in this garden till about ten years ago, and 

 then they were found near an old Quince tree. Now they have seen 

 as many as ten together in a small piece of ground, and though they 

 scarcely ever find them, except when they are turning over the ground 

 (about three or four inches below the surface), the one sent me was picked 

 up ofl' the top of the soil. The gardener thinks they lie dormant in 

 winter time, and he has noticed little dents in the soil where they have 

 lain. When they cut one of them in half, they found a long Worm 

 inside ! "— (F. C.) 



Those who wish to follow up details in a fairly accessible pubUca- 



