AGRIOLIMAX AGRESTIS. 107 
Reproduction and Development.—Unlike its ally A. /wvis, which 
in the course of its sexual development is so markedly proterogynous, our 
A. agrestis shows a distinctly proterandrous tendency. 
It is a species easily excited to sexual impulse, and very prolific, multi- 
plying with great rapidity and under favourable circumstances breeding 
almost continuously throughout the summer months, producing numerous 
generations, as renewed intercourse may take place three or four days 
after a period of egg-deposition; a pair kept in confinement were actually 
depositing their third batch of eggs before the first were hatched, and a 
single pair have been observed by ‘Leuchs to deposit the enormous number 
of seven hundred and seventy-six eggs during the season. 
The act of conjugation usually takes place in the evening throughout 
the whole year, even when the thermometer verges upon freezing point, 
though more freely indulged in during the summer months, and is always 
preceded by a prolonged circular procession, which, through seasonal or other 
influences, may continue for only half-an-hour, or may ‘be persisted in for 
one hour or more; during this performance milky slime is copiously given 
off, forming thick circular patches, one or two inches in diameter, which 
afterwards indicate the spot where congress has taken place. 
Animals seeking to pair, on approaching each other, immediately begin 
the circular promenade, the head of the one animal being laid upon or in 
contact with the tail of the other, the animals oradually getting closer 
together, and stroking and patting each other with the exserted excitatory 
organ or sarcobelum, which is waved about excitedly in a ludicrous manner, 
and agitated in many sportive ways; the animals also fondle and caress 
with their tentacles, or even entwine together the anterior part of their 
bodies, these blandishments leading up eventually to the final consumma- 
tion, which is very transient, not usually occupying more than a few 
seconds, during which period the seminal element, mixed with mucus and 
worked up into a little ball, is transferred bodily, the forerunner of a true 
spermatophore. 
The eggs are usually round, pellucid, bluish-white, and about two mill. 
in diameter, but vary somewhat in both size and shape, even in the same 
batch. They may be found at all seasons of the year, even in January, 
Van Beneden especially remarking that they are deposited all through the 
winter months. They are placed under stones and rubbish, beneath 
fallen trees, and other moist and shady places, usually in clusters, which 
vary in number from about twelve to forty, or even more, and are said to 
be laid fourteen to twenty days after sexual intercourse, but according to 
Mr. E. J. Lowe, who has kept this species in captivity, only five days 
usually elapse before egg deposition takes place. ‘The hatching occurs in 
three or four weeks’ time, varying somewhat according to the weather. 
The young grow very rapidly, doubling their size and w elght in a week’s 
time, and even growing during the winter months if the cold is not too 
severe, attaining sexual maturity, pairing, and depositing eggs at a very 
early age; one pair was observed to breed and deposit eggs in sixty-six days 
from the time of hatching, although full growth was not reached until the 
animals were eighty-two days old. ‘heir life cycle or period has not been 
accurately ascertained, but in a state of nature does not appear to exceed 
eighteen months. 
Economic Uses.—This species was formerly and is even yet in rural 
districts much sought after as a cure for consumption and other diseases of 
the lungs and chest.!. They may be employed in the form of a broth, or 
1 Monog, i., p. 428. 
