126 LIMACID^. 



Genus I. ARION * Femssac. PL V. f. 1, 2. 



Body nearly cylindrical, with a strongly wiinkled skin: 

 shidd oblong, shagreened : respiratorij orifice placed near the 

 front edge of the shield : foot furnished at its posterior extre- 

 mity or tail with a mucus- or slime-gland. 



Shell amorphous, consisting of loose calcareous grains 

 which are covered by the hinder part of the shield. 



The Arions, or black slugs^ frequent damp and shady 

 woods, as well as hedge-banks and gardens. During 

 the daytime they lurk under stones and logs of wood, 

 or bury themselves in the earth, where they excavate a 

 sort of tunnel ; but at night, and after rain, they sally 

 forth to feed. They are great pests in gardens, gene- 

 rally selecting the best cabbages and most succulent 

 vegetables. They are, however, not very particular 

 about their food, and act the part of land-scavengers, 

 devouring animal matter of all kinds in every state of 

 decomposition, and even each other^s slime. They may 

 be frequently met with in garden-walks, after a shower, 

 in search of food. During the season of reproduction 

 they deposit their eggs, which are very numerous, sepa- 

 rately underground. When at rest, they contract their 

 bodies into a lump. In this state they offer a dainty 

 prize to ducks. They differ from the Limaces, or com- 

 mon slugs, in their respiratory orifice being placed in 

 front, instead of near the hinder part, of the shield, in 

 having a slime-gland at the tail, and in the arrangement 

 of the teeth. 



* The name of an ancient musician and poet : scarcely appropriate to 

 this ^enus. 



