THE SLUG. 



183 



represented in Fig. 59 is, at the period of its life when generally noticed 

 by the cultivator, a greenish-black, club-shaped worm, with a thick 

 rounded anterior extremity, and tapering towards the posterior. It is 

 covered with a semi-transparent coat of slime, which exudes from the 

 body, and, in the hottest sunshine, does not become hard or dry. 



" While resting undisturbed upon the leaf, the tail or last segment of 

 the body is slightly raised. At its greatest size, the worm is about half 

 an inch in length ; it is very sluggish in its habits, being rarely seen to 

 move. 



" The injury consists in its eating the upper skin of the leaf, while the 



Fig. 59. 



Fig. 59. Tho Pcar-SIug full grown. The Leaf with its upper surface partially 

 destroyed, (a.) Tho Egg deposited upon tho upper surface of the lea£ 



lower skin and the veins are untouched ; the leaves immediately assume 

 a brown, unsightly appearance, while the proper function of the leaf, 

 the elaboration of the sap, is almost entirely obstructed. 



"Like all other insects, its existence may be divided into four stages : 

 First, the Egg ; second, the Larva, or worm state, which is peculiarly 

 its eating and growing period ; third, the Fupa, or dormant state ; 



