516 ScHARFF— Ow the Slugs of Ireland. 



variation of slugs. Mr. Roebuck, especially, has for several years made slugs 

 his principal study, and has worked with great energy in extending our infor- 

 mation as regards their distribution in all parts of Great Britain and Ireland. 

 Before writing this Paper I consulted Messrs. Taylor and Roebuck, who in 

 consideration of my only dealing with the most neglected portion of the British 

 Islands, kindly promised their support and assistance in my work. The six 

 volumes of the Journal of Conchology originated by J. W. Taylor contain a large 

 number of references and records of Irish slugs. 



The most important Memoirs on European continental slugs are those of 

 Simroth (38) and Lessona and PoUonera (21). The former chiefly deals with 

 the German forms, and the latter with the Italian. As regards the French slugs, 

 Moquin-Tandon's (26) work is still the most reliable. Although more recent 

 observers have added a good many new species, and even genera to the French 

 Fauna, most of them have to be accepted with great caution. 



In concluding these preliminary remarks, I must express my sincerest thanks 

 to Messrs. A. G. More, F. W. Moore, J. R. Redding, G. Barrett-Hamilton, H, B. 

 Rathborne, G. H. Carpenter, Rev. A. H. Delap, and Miss Warren, for specimens, 

 and Messrs. Taylor, Hanitsch, Pollonera, and Simroth, for kind advice, or literary 

 help. The latter was good enough to submit to me part of the proof of his 

 forthcoming memoir on the slugs of Portugal and the Azores, which will appear 

 during the course of the present year. 



Synopsis of the Irish Genera. 

 A. — Slugs without caudal gland. Pulmonary opening behind the middle of the 

 mantle = Limax, Agriolimax^ Amalia. 



I. — Mantle with concentric wrinkles — Limax, Agriolimax. 



a. Lateral bands, or a band of spots present, = Limax. 



b. Lateral bands absent = Agriolimax. 



II. — Mantle granulated, and with deep horse-shoe shaped groove, = Amalia. 

 B. — Slugs with caudal gland. Pulmonary opening in front of the middle of 

 the mantle = Arion, Geomalacus. 



I. — Caudal gland placed longitudinally = Avion. 

 II. — Caudle gland jolaced transversely = Geomalacus. 



Genus I. — Limax. (Linn^, 1758). 



Body elongated, keeled towards the tail ; wrinkles longitudinal on body, 

 concentric on mantle. Longitudinal bands or bands of spots on body and mantle 

 always jwesent in adult; no caudal gland. Pulmonary opening behind middle 



