270 WEST COAST SHELLS 



that they are especially fond of orange peel, and they 

 will be pretty sure to find it if a piece is left near 

 their haunts, a fact indicating that they have a keen 

 sense of smell. It is a common sight to observe three 

 or four healthy specimens gathering around one piece 

 of orange peel. They are also fond of milk, and 

 will be found in the morning gathered around pussy's 

 saucer which was left out in the yard over night. 



The name of this species is Ariollmax columbia- 

 7ius^ Gld., the Great Yellow Slug. Occasionally a 

 specimen is found that is partly covered with large 

 dark spots, but at best it is only a spotted form of 

 the main species. I have seen this spotted variety 

 near the Russian River, in Sonoma County. A variety 

 stra?nineus, Hemphill, of a light straw color is de- 

 scribed as existing on Santa Cruz Island. 



Two other species, Ariolimax calif ornicus^ J. G. 

 Cooper, and Aphallarion huttoni^ Pils., & Van., can- 

 not readily be distinguished from A. columhianus by 

 external characteristics, though they differ internally, 

 particularly in the genetalia. 



Ariolimax niger^ Cooper, the Black Slug, has a 

 body long and narrow, blunt in front and tapering 

 but little behind. When crawling the animal is some 

 two inches in length, but when at rest, as it may be 

 found under old boards and similar places, it is so 

 contracted that it is hardly one inch long. Its color 

 is quite dark, sometimes being nearly black, espe- 

 cially on the upper surface of the body; but I have 

 found specimens which are very much lighter, almost 

 an ashy gray. This species is common in central 

 California. 



