te) LIMAX MAXIMUS. 
again nade straight towards the plate, on again nearing it the same process 
was repeated with the same result, the plate being finally removed and placed 
in a fourth position, eight feet away, and directly to the leeward of the slug, 
yet in a little more than half-an-hour the slug had reached the plate. 
Food.—L. maximus is very omnivorous, and though, according to Sim- 
roth, as a rule refusing plants containing chlorophyll, it has been observed 
by Mr. E. J. Lowe to devour the young and tender foliage of Adzantum, 
Petunias, Pansies, Chrysanthemums, Cucumbers, French Beans, ‘Tobacco 
plants, Dahlias, and other garden plants; the leaves of the Cauliflower when 
turning yellow are also sought after. 
It also greedily devours fungi, which, indeed, are said to form its staple diet 
and to be preferred to other food. In Mr. Gain’s experiments’ upon the food 
of British mollusks, he offered this species 196 different plants, of which 157 
were totally rejected, and only two— Boletus edulis and root of carrot— 
were eaten with avidity. It has also been observed by Dr. Scharff to devour 
Russula emetica. 
It evinces a great preference for kitchen refuse, and shows especial par- 
tiality for custards, milk, bread, raw or cooked meats, and other articles of 
human food, and even makes its way into fruit rooms to feed upon the 
fruit stored there ; it also not uncommonly visits the “sugar” placed by the 
lepidopterist upon the trunks of trees to attract the mght-flyimg moths. 
Reproduction and Development.—'lhe act of conjugation in Limax 
maximus is very remarkable,’ though it 1s probable that analogous processes 
are indulged in by their close alhes. ‘lhe operation, though noticed to occur 
at various times during the day, usually takes place towards midnight. 
Fic. 62. Fic. 63. Fic. 64. Fic. 65. 
Serial changes of form undergone by the male organ of Limax Ma XTINUS L., prior to and 
during conjugation (after nature sketches by Mr. Lionel E. Adams). 
Fic. 58.—Aspect of the penes immediately after protrusion from the body. Fic. 59.— Shows the 
commencement of the appearance of the frill. Fic. 60.—Frill partially unrolled. Fic 61.—Frill 
completely expanded, preparatory to twisting together. Fic. 62.—Penes tightly coiled together, 
forming the whorled knot. Fic. 63.—The succeeding umbrella-form. Fic. 64.—Umbrella-form with 
horizontal margins reversed. Fic. 65.—Umbrella-form with double margins. 
‘he animals secking to pair would seem to be cognisant of the presence of 
a, prospective partner even when a considerable distance away, as they make 
straightway towards each other ; when the animals meet, they mutually 
caress with their tentacles, after the manner of ants, and forthwith begin to 
1 J. of Conch., April 1891, pp. 349-361. 2 Monog. i., p. 378, f. 689. 
