40 LIMAX MAXIMUS. 
It has been noticed in a Holocene deposit at Reigate by the Rey. R. 
Ashington Bullen; in a hill-wash at St. Catherine’s Down, in the Isle of 
Wight, by Mr. J. S. Bowerbank, in 1836; and also in a modern marine 
deposit, Pegwell Bay, in East Kent, by Mr. Alfred Bell. 
Variation.—The variation of Limar maximus is in many respects analo- 
gous with the band variation of the pentateeniate Helices, and shows similar 
traces of having passed through parallel stages of colouration ; the banding 
exhibiting many of the same peculiarities, and being capable of expression 
by a sunilar numerical formula. 
In its highest development Z. maeimus may be considered as triple- 
tinted, its primitive or fundamental colouring being probably a somewhat 
uniforin yellowish, greyish, or reddish tint, varying m harmony with the 
environment and the temperature to which the animal has been subjected 
during its growth period. ‘The second stage was probably the development 
of paired lateral bands overlying the lateral blood sinuses and presumed to 
derive their pigmentation from the action of the atmosphere upon the mass 
of blood beneath the skin; these bands, which are regarded by Simroth as 
an ancient badge of the Pulmonates, may, by concentration of pigment, 
form a lighter area on each side and thus lead ; 
to the establishment of darker zones, one on 1- 
each side of the primitive one, thus constitut- 2. 
ing the three typical longitudinal | bands, which 3 
inay be distinguished as the inner, main, and 
outer bands, or formulated by the numerals F1G. 66.—Portion of body of Limax 
maximus L., to show band formula. 
J, 2, 3, referring to their position in regard to 
the median dorsal line. The bands mnay at any stage become broken up into 
spots, or by diffusion more or less completely overspread and obscure the 
primitive ground colour; to be eventually overspread or embellished by the 
superposition of a tertiary stage of colouring, which, as betore, first appears 
in a position coimeident with that of the chief lateral blood sinuses. 
Many varieties still retain the paler secondary banding upon which the 
darker tertiary markings are superposed, but by marginal concentration of 
pigment each tertiary band may become resolved into a slender double line 
or a double row of spots, which border each of the paler secondary bands, 
and give a similar aspect to that of the Helix hortensis figured in vol. 1., p. 99. 
In this country the ground tint is usually some shade of ash- ee but 
brighter shades are occasionally met with, which would seem to be atavistic, 
or a retention in mature life of immature colourings ; the line of variation 
is, however, chiefly in the intensity and character of the dark markings. 
Its size has also been observed by Locard to vary according to the alti- 
tude of its abode, the animal being smaller in size when living in elevated 
localities. Dr. Baudon has remarked on the differences in size, and created 
a var. gigantea for some unusually large specimens found at Mouy, in the 
department of the Oise. Similar examples have been found in this 
country, one found by Mr. Quilter in Belvoir Castle gardens exceeding eight 
inches in length. 
The varieties of Limaa maximus are grouped in three series : according 
to the ground colour of the body ; the character of the dark markings ; and 
to accommodate examples in which these two factors exist together in 
unusually striking combination. 
It should not, however, be overlooked by the student that the following 
list by no means exhausts the variations that inay be met with, as the various 
ground tints may be associated with any of the different markings and con- 
