Observations on the Mycophagous propensities of Slugs. 85 
stated to attack not only Boletus edulis, but also Amanita 
muscaria and Amanita phalloides, apparently avoiding Boletus 
luridus (see Turton, p. 81). 
The method I adopted was to keep from three to six of each 
species of slug under an inverted glass bowl that accurately 
fitted a saucer, in which either moss or earthy soil was placed, 
and the fungus either whole or cut to a suitable size was intro- 
duced, and allowed to remain for forty-eight hours. At the end 
of this period it was removed and the amount and parts that 
had been eaten duly noted. The slugs were not fed again for 
three days at least, before any other food was tried. The results 
as to preference for any particular part of the fungus show that 
sometimes the stipe was first attacked and in other cases the 
hymenium or the pileus, but they are as yet incomplete and 
require further confirmation, so that they are not given in the 
table herewith. 
The following remarks may be made concerning the ten 
species of slug that have been used for the experiments. 
Arionidae. 
I. Arion ater is extremely voracious and omnivorous. It 
will devour decomposing or living animal matter and also its 
own, fellows, in fact, almost anything, paper, or sand (Cooke, 
p. 31), also the poisonous berries of Avum maculatum, as well 
as poisonous fungi such as Amamita pantherina. 
2. Arion subfuscus usually prefers non-chlorophyllaceous 
material as its food, as also does Avion intermedius and Limax 
maximus, hence, as would have been anticipated, these species 
possess a great partiality for fungi. Taylor (p. 196), referring to 
A. subfuscus, says that Phallus impudicus was greedily de- 
voured, but the animals died soon afterwards. 
3. Arion circumscriptus is a geophilous slug, and, so far as my 
observations go, does not appear to be very partial to fungus food, 
yet it may often be found in the stipe and pileus of many Agarics. 
4. Arion intermedius, known as the hedgehog slug, is appa- 
rently purely mycophagous. It frequents uncultivated ground 
where fungi abound, and refuse where fungoid growths are 
developing. 
5. Arion hortensis is another geophilous species, and is a 
chlorophyll feeder, being rarely found on fungi: it does not 
apparently seek fungi for food, but I have observed that it 
devours three species of Russula with avidity. 
Limacidae. 
6. Limax maximus is an omnivorous feeder, having a par- 
tiality for kitchen refuse, such as fat, meat scraps, and milk, 
but it avoids those substances that contain chlorophyll. It has 
