130 LIMACID^E. 



autumn of 1842, "on rocks around Lough Carrough, 

 to the south of Castlemain Bay, Co. Kerry, in the West 

 of Ireland." Mr. Andrews informs me that it is im- 

 possible to appreciate the extreme beauty of this slug 

 without observing it in the living state. The surmise 

 offered by the authors of the ' British Mollusca,' that 

 this may be an Asturian, as well as an Irish, slug, is pro- 

 bably well founded. Morelet's description, in 1845, of 

 his Limax anguiformis appears to have escaped their 

 notice. He especially mentions the peculiar form of 

 the slug and the position of the respiratory organ. 



Genus III. LFMAX*, Linne\ PL V. f. 4, 5. 



BODY nearly cylindrical, with a wrinkled skin, and more 

 or less keeled on the back : shield sometimes shagreened, 

 but in most cases concentrically striate : respiratory orifice 

 near the hinder edge of the shield : reproductive orifice close 

 to and behind the right upper tentacle : foot not furnished 

 with a mucus-gland. 



SHELL oval or shaped like a finger-nail, formed of con- 

 centric layers, and covered by the hinder part of the shield 

 (Limacella, Brard). 



The habits of this kind of slug are nearly the same as 

 those of Arion ; but some of them appear to like the 

 company of man more than he desires, being often 

 found in kitchens and domestic offices. They are, how- 

 ever, sometimes useful in eating that kind of fungus 

 which causes dry rot, and another kind which infests 

 cellars and makes choice Port wine what is termed 

 "corked." Among themselves they are also sociable, 

 and are often found clustered together in the same spot. 

 Gardeners have great cause to complain of their voracity, 

 and especially when they see the finest strawberries have 

 been selected for their supper or early repast. 

 * Slug. 



