into a work like the prefent. The genus however is in 
reality of very great importance, fince it flands, as it 
were, the general archetype or pattern on which the 
animals of almoft all the univalve fhells are formed : 
indeed fo very nearly are fome of them allied to this 
genus, that they feem, on a curfory view, to differ in 
fcarce any other circumftance than that of being fur- 
nifhed with fhells, into which they can at pleafure 
withdraw themfelves. Of this the genus Helix, which 
contains the common or fhell-fnails, is a convincing 
proof. The reft of the univalves, (with a few remark- 
able exceptions,) are more or lefs fimilar to the genus 
Limax. Two of the moft familiar fpecies of Limax 
which this country produces are the Limax ater and 
maximus: the one is diftinguifhed by its intenfe black- 
nefs, and is extremely common in fields and meadows ; 
the other, lefs common than the former, is of a pale 
brown, with irregular deep-black {pots and ftreaks : it 
is principally feen in woods and in garden-ground du- 
rng the vernal and autumnal feafons, and not unfre- 
quently creeps into houfes. Both agree in their mode 
of living; feeding on the leaves and roots of vegetables. 
The ibotted Slug, like fome others of its genus, is often 
infefted by a very fmall fpecies of acarus, which ap- 
pears in great numbers, running with much celerity 
over the animal, and frequently entering the lateral 
foramen of the body. The Limax however, either 
from its natural hebetude, or from being coated at all 
times by a quantity of mucus, feems to feel no parti- 
cular inconvenience from thefe little infects, and fhews 
no fymptoms of irritation even when they are running 
in and out of the orifice in its fide. 
