172 ARION ATER. 
In winter, when half-grown, they are very apathetic, coiling themselves 
up in a serpentine fashion, and huddling together in a close and compact 
mass when in company with others. They grow very little during this 
period, as they take little food; but with the advent of warmer weather 
their activity increases, they eat greedily, and rapidly increase in size. 
Food and Habits.—This species is very voracious, and almost omni- 
vorous, as 1s demonstrated by the fact certified by Mr. Gain, that out of 
197 different kinds of food, only 39 were refused, while decaying animal or 
vegetable matter, excrement, edible and poisonous fungi, paper, weak or 
injured worms or animals of its own or other species are readily devoured. 
© ee; z “% FES 
€ Bry %e, Vee 7 OMe ye HH, 
Fic. 202.—Fragment of newspaper, as eaten by Avion ater, showing the character of the 
feeding-track (after H. Wallis Kew). 
The colour of the feces is also singularly responsive to the nature of the 
food, Mr. H. W. Kew stating that the fecal matter of individuals kept in 
confinement and fed upon fresh green leaves was always dark green, but 
when fed upon apple became of an amber colour; if petals of Ranunculus 
were eaten the excreta was deep yellow, but changed to a scarlet colour 
when the animals were fed upon the berries of Arum maculatum. 
It is very sluggish and indolent, and recovers itself with difficulty when 
placed on its back ; if startled or irritated it shrinks into a characteristic 
hemispherical lump, and sways its body from side to side in a peculiar 
rolling way. The favourite localities of this species are moist shady places 
in woods, fields, and gardens ; it would seem to more especially prefer 
roadsides and hedgerows. They emerge from their hiding-place at dusk 
and during the night, but in moist or cloudy weather they come forth 
during the day, their appearance at that time being popularly believed 
to prognosticate rain. 
Superstitions, Folk Lore, etc.—The calcareous matter found beneath 
the shield of Avion ater was formerly believed to possess great and varied 
medicinal virtues. It was firmly believed to be an infallible specifie in 
cases of consumption, and was amongst other methods prescribed to be 
swallowed alive by the sufferer; even at the present day, in some parts, a 
poultice of slugs, placed upon the chest, is considered to have a very 
beneficial effect in chest complaints. ‘The ancient physicians also regarded 
the powder resulting from the drying of the vestigial shell as a very effec- 
tive remedy for dysentery, while Pliny records the same powdery-dust as a 
remedy for the teeth. 
In many parts of England, the country people still have a marvellous 
faith in the use of this mollusk for the removal of warts; the method 
being to well rub the wart with the body of the slug, which by the rubbing 
