124 AGRIOLIMAX LEVIS. 
The act of conjugation in this species has never been described, but it 
has been observed by Gassies, in the var. wrenaria, to take place usually at 
Fic. 137. Fic. 138. Fic. 139. Fic. 140. Fic. 141. 
Reproductive organs of Agriolimax levis Miill. x 6, illustrating the metamorphic changes 
to which they are subject (after Babor). 
Fic. 137.—The organs in their earliest or solely female state. 
Fic. 138.—The succeeding stage, showing the budding of the male organ. 
Fic. 139.—The perfected hermaphrodite state. 
Fic. 140.—The following period, showing the dwindling of the female organs in the process of 
becoming solely male. ; ; 
Fic. 141.—The cycle of change completed, the female organs having disappeared, and the animal 
being solely male. 
night, or during thunderstorms and tempestuous rains, and is known to be 
preceded by the circular procession and amatory flirtations which seem so 
characteristic of slugs generally, but this preliminary courtship is appar- 
ently in this species a very tedious and prolonged operation, as these 
blandishments have been observed to continue for more than an hour at 
a stretch without result. 
The seminal element would appear to be transferred enclosed within 
a soft mucous capsule, of a somewhat triangular shape, which represents 
and acts as a true spermatophore, and is 
apparently formed in the outer or larger 
limb of the flagellum, which functions as a 
shme gland, while the smaller projection or 
limb when inverted functions as the intro- 
mittent organ. 
The eggs are roundish, quite transparent, of somewhat leathery consis- 
tency, with a diameter varying between 1°3 and 2°8 millimetres, and are 
deposited either singly or in small clusters, held together by clear slime, in 
moist situations, all the year through. According to the observations of 
Gassies and others, they are laid at intervals of a day or more, three 
days after pairing, deposition extending over a period of six or eight days, 
and the total number being said not to exceed about thirty. 
The hatching takes place in from twenty to forty days, the young when 
excluded being ~about three millimetres long and of a reddish colour, which 
eradually becomes of a browner shade, the animals attaining maturity in 
about seventy days. 
Fic. 142. — Mucous 
sperm capsule, or sper- 
matophore, of 4. “ez/s 
(after Simroth). 
Food and Habits.—A griolimax levis is the most active, restless, and 
fearless of our slugs, and even hardier than A. agrestis. If touched when 
crawling it has been observed to elevate the median part of its body, in a 
manner recalling the mode of progression characterizing the caterpillar of 
the Geometride, the mantle then appearing very protuberant. 
+ ge 
