INSECTS, MITES, ETC, 



221 



fairly well known by its large marbled shell, inside of 

 which it usually shelters by day at the base of walls or 

 fences or among the stems of jjlants. They are chiefly 

 seen in mild weather and in damp situations, being most 

 numerous after warm showers in spring and summer. The 

 snail lays its white globular eggs in clusters in damp soils. 

 These soon hatch, and the baby snails proceed forthw^ith 

 to lev3^ toll upon the succulent young vegetation. In 

 autumn snails retire within their shells, and by means of 

 a slimy secretion at the orifice attach themselves to walls. 



GAKUL-N 



LLCS. 



Fig. 1, Milky Slug (Limax agre.stis) ; Fig. 2, Black Slug iLiniax ater) in 

 j-oung stage; Fig. 3, Adult variety of la'?t-namecl species in report; Fig. 4, Eggu. 



under the shelter of ivy or creepers, or against palings, 

 where they remain dormant till spring. Snails are said 

 to live for fourteen or fifteen years. 



Slugs differ from snails in possessing no shells. There 

 are several kinds, as the Milky Slug (Limax agrestris), 

 whitish or ash-coloured; Black Slug (Limax ater), body 

 wrinkled, colour black and pale beneath; and the Black- 

 striped Slug (Limax maximus), a large kind growing 4in. 

 to oin. long, and with an ash-coloured borly striped with 

 black. All lay their eggs in damp soil, and feed chiefly 

 at night or on showery, warm days. They are most active 



