LOSZ 



THE NATURE BOOK 



A YOUNG SPECIMEN OF ARIOX ATER (VAR. BLACK) CONTRACTED IN ANGER. 



contract into the hemispherical form 

 when annoyed or at rest. The colour of 

 the body is always darker than the 

 " sliield " — whereas in ater the colouring 

 is uniform — and the species has no shell. 

 The type form is said to be represented 

 by A. subfuscus rufo-fusca, a yellowish- 

 brown animal with dark bands on back 

 and side and cur\-ing ox^er the respiratory 

 orifice on the " shield." The favourite 

 food is fungi, these slugs eating the most 

 poisonous kinds of the Agarics with im- 

 punity. 



II. A. hortensis is a very familiar slug 

 to all gardeners — far too much so for their 

 equanimity. It is a small variety about 

 an inch and a half in length, and possesses 

 a very tough skin ; this being a point 

 discovered by gardeners, who do not 

 proceed upon scientific methods of investi- 

 gation, but avail themselves of a handy 

 brick. A. hortensis fasciata is regarded 

 as the ty^Q- form, having a dark slate- 

 coloured back and centre of " shield " 

 with black stripes on the sides, and curving 

 the border of the "shield." The " foot- 

 sole " is always orange. There is no true 

 shell, only a few loose granules in the 

 shell-sac. A. hortensis aiirea is the 

 brightest coloured form, the back, "sliield" 

 and " foot-fringe " bright yellow ; the 

 sides of the slug are grey. It is most 

 destructive in gardens to lettuce or straw- 

 berry plantations and such hke ; the 

 S]M'cies is also found in open country. 

 \Vhen the gardener resorts to deliberate 

 nn'thods of self-defence, the animal's 

 I^artiahty fur beer can be depended 

 upon. 



III. A. circumscriptus is another 

 small variety said to measure only an 

 inch. It is a slug associated with open 

 country, although a consignment of turf 

 can easily introduce it to the garden, as 

 it inhabits grass fields and wayside land. 



The animal is broader in build and paler 

 in colour than A. hortensis, of pale cream 

 colour shading to grey, darker on the 

 back with a chstinct black band passing 

 round the body on the sides, the name 

 being derived from circum (around) and 

 scriptum (marked). 



A distinguishing character is the white 

 " foot-sole " — a really brilliant white — 

 and the softer skin as compared with A. 

 hortensis. The young slug shows a slight 

 dorsal " keel," but this subsides when 

 fully grown. Variety .-1. circumscriptus 

 grisea is the most commonly known, 

 having pale grey general colouring with 

 sepia banding. 



The type has pale brownish-grey back, 

 dark brown banding with orange-yellow 

 sides in the area Ixing between the band 

 and the cream-coloured " foot-fringe " ; 

 the " foot-sole " brilliantly white. The 

 slug is often found under rotting trees and 

 logs, where it makes burrows in the damp 

 soil ; it is also found in association with 

 mushrooms. 



When resting, the animal takes the 

 familiar Arion contracted form, with the 

 " foot-fringe " spread out probably for 

 more secure suj^iport. To the touch this 

 slug is extremely sticky, and easily ex- 

 hausted when exposed to sunlight, when 

 it falls into twisted forms or stiffened un- 

 natural curves. 



