LIMAX FLAVUS. 
D 
— 
being strong and well developed, and the side-cutting points obsolete ; the inner 
marginals are simply and strongly aculeate, but many of the extreme marginals 
show a clearly distinguishable ‘ectocone which must not be confused with the 
angular appearance due to the basal corner of the tooth. 
The formula is S4+t1 +2041 F20+11 434 x 153—=20,043. 
Reproduction and Development.—The act of pairing does not 
appear to have been observed or recorded except by Férussac, who describes 
the heads of the coupled individuals as touching but laterally opposed during 
the act; it is, however, affirmed by Simroth that no spermatophore is 
formed, the seminal element being transferred in a fluid state. 
‘he eggs are deposited in clusters of half-a-dozen to a score or more, 
beneath Togs and in other moist and convenient places; they are at first 
colourless and perfectly translucent, tinged in some cases with amber, 
roundly oval in shape, soft and very elastic, and about seven mill. Jong and 
five mill. in diameter, usually though not invariably disposed in a series 
united together by a yellowish albuminous mucus with which they have 
become enveloped in their passage down the oviduct, and which by settling 
between the eggs gives them their acuminate aspect at the poles. Although 
the eggs are themselves very uniform in size, this mucous envelope varies so 
greatly in thickness that the eggs may appear to range in size from seven to 
eleven mill. in length even in the same batch. They are deposited from the 
beginning of July even into December, and hatch in from forty to sixty days, 
according to the weather, the young when hatched being about ten mull. 
long, and of a pale transparent yellow, or they may be somewhat greenish 
with a distinct light dorsal stripe and darker sides. ‘They become adult 
within the year. 
Food and Habits.—They are essentially nocturnal in habit, and very 
gregarious, often congregating together one upon another in a striking way 
for their siesta, and Bouchard-Chantereaux has remarked that one of their 
ommatophores is nearly always half extended at those times. 
Though often found in moist woods and gardens, beneath turf, logs, under 
stones or bark of old trees, in crevices of walls, etc., yet this species would 
appear to prefer the shelter of artificial surroundings, being found most 
commonly in damp cellars, vaults, sculleries, drains, ‘outhouses, sides of 
wells, and other similar places. 
It is an active and voracious species, feeding greedily upon bread, cooked 
meat, and vegetables, and many kinds of table delicacies. It is also partial 
to cream, butter, flour, and even soap, and will grow sleek and fat upon the 
mildew found on damp walls. In a grocer’s warehouse, in Leeds, LZ. flavus 
was noticed to show an especial predilection for brown sugar. 
In a state of nature it is said not to devour the green leaves of phanero- 
gamic plants, but to restrict itself to fungi and the minute lichens which 
stain the surface of old walls or are found upon the bark of trees; the 
stomach, under ordinary conditions, being filled with almost all kinds of 
garbage and mouldy growths. It will, however, eat the decayed leaves of 
Vinca and Primula. 
In confinement, Mr. Gain offered 197 various kinds of food to this species, 
but only the Mushroom, Psalliota campestris, Boletus edulis, and the root of 
Carrot were eaten with avidity, though seventeen others were eaten freely, 
amongst which Armillaria mellea, Russula heterophylla, Marasmius oreades, 
Polyporus squamosus, the fruit of the Strawberry, the leaves of Holly and 
Bryony, the stalks of Lettuce and Cabbage, the roots of Potato, Turnip, and 
Swede may be especially mentioned. 
