132 LIMACID^E. 



2. L. MARGIN A'TUS *, Muller. 



L. Marginatua, Mlill. Verm. Hist. pt. ii. p. 10. L. Sowerbii, F. & H. 



iv. p. 22, pi. E. E. E. f. 3. 



BODY nearly cylindrical, truncate and slightly tumid in 

 front, gradually tapering to a point behind, yellowish or 

 reddish-brown speckled with black, irregularly wrinkled: 

 shield oblong, obtusely rounded at both ends, wider and 

 slightly truncate behind, partly bordered with a dark band 

 on each side and occasionally streaked down the middle, very 

 irregularly granulated: tentacles thick, not much swollen at 

 their tips: back having a prominent keel or ridge, which 

 extends the whole length from the hinder edge of the shield 

 to the tail, and is of a lighter colour than the % rest of the 

 body : foot pale-margined : slime colourless. Dimensions 

 same as in the last species. 



SHELL oval, thickened, with conspicuous lines of growth : 

 boss or nucleus near one end, rather prominent. L. 0*2. 

 B. 0-125. 



HABITAT : Under stones, among dead leaves, and at 

 the foot of old walls everywhere. The shell or Limacella 

 has been found in our upper tertiary beds. Although 

 this must be a widely diffused species, it does not appear 

 to have been noticed by any Continental writers except 

 Muller, Moqum-Tandon, and the Abbe* Stabile, accord- 

 ing to whom it inhabits Denmark and the mountainous 

 districts of France and Lugano. 



This slug is inactive in its habits and secretes a thick 

 and tenacious slime. Stabile says that it is much preyed 

 upon by the Silphce, Carabi, and other large carnivorous 

 beetles. L. marginatus is said in its turn to attack and 

 eat other animals, and especially live worms and smaller 

 slugs. 



Muller's description seems to be sufficient for the 

 identification of this species with that of Draparnaud 

 and subsequent authors, who have adopted the name first 



* Bordered. 



