ScHARFF — On the Slugs of Ireland. 531 



to all the species and by which the genus is most readily distinguished from others, 

 is the deep horse-shoe shaped groove on the mantle. The mantle, moreover, is 

 different from that in the two preceding genera in being granulated. 



As regards the internal organization, the genus is more closely allied to Agrio- 

 Umax than to Limax, but still there are many very important differences. There 

 are four convolutions to the intestine in both genera, but Amalia has accessory 

 glands in connexion with the vestibule or oviduct, which are absent in Agriolmax. 

 On the other hand, the penis in Amalia has no accessory gland or flagellum. The 

 sperm is transmitted by means of a spermatophore in Amalia, and by a soft 

 mucous capsule (Schleimpatrone) in the other. Agriolimaz is quick in its move- 

 ments, has a delicate skin and abundant liquid mucus, whilst Amalia is slow, with 

 thicker skin and often with tough viscid mucus. 



Synopsis of the Irish Species of Amalia. 



I. — Colour generally brown, foot yellowish, and mucus viscid = A. carinata. 

 II. — Colour generally black, foot white, and mucus watery = A. gagates. 



Amalia carinata. Leach. 



Limax carinatus. Leach, Synops. Moll. Brit., 1820. Limax marginatus. Jeffrej's, 



Brit. Conch., 1862 (not Mliller.) 



(Plate LVL, fig. 8.) 



Colour of body generally brown. Groove on mantle almost always filled with 

 dark pigment. Skin thick, and interstices between wrinkles filled with black 

 pigment, and slime viscid. Keel of a lighter colour than rest of body. Foot 

 yellowish. Receptaculum seminis very large and elongated. 



Synonymy. — The name Limax marginatus applied to this slug by Jeffreys (16) 

 has already been disposed of, having evidently been intended by Mliller (28) for 

 quite a different species. The name L. marginatus has been kept up by Taylor and 

 Roebuck (42) in their Irish list, and in the Conchological Journal (41), but it has 

 been discontinued for the British form by Continental authors, such as Simroth 

 (38) and Lessona and Pollonera (21). I think there is no doubt that the Irish 

 form is the one described by Leach (19) as Limax carinatus. I was not sure 

 whether it was the same as tlie Continental, at least the German form, so I 

 submitted specimens of several varieties to Dr. Simroth, who pronounced them to be 

 Amalia carinata, Eisso. He tells me they differ but little from the German speci- 

 mens, hardly sufficieiatly to attach to them a distinct varietal name. The proofs of 

 Leach's work (19) were in circulation in 1820, so that his name should be attached 

 in preference to that of Risso. 



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