THE SNAILS AND SLUGS OF. THE GREEN LANES. 200 



naturalists employ to include them and their kind. 

 Our marine shells, especially the larger and brighter 

 coloured species from tropical countries, have long 

 been objects of interest ; whilst the thinner but 

 similarly formed shells of our land snails have come 

 in for all the contempt and dislike. But we have 

 many species that construct really pretty shells, 

 and we know of no collection of natural objects 

 which looks better in the cabinet than one of snail 

 shells. Any beginner wishing to have information 

 how to commence collecting these common objects 

 should procure the number of ' Science Gossip ' for 

 1872, which contains an article on ' Collecting and 

 Preserving Land and Fresh- water Shells/ by Mr. K. 

 Tate. The work by the same well-known naturalist, 

 with coloured illustrations, on ' British Mollusca,' 

 will readily enable the student to acquire a good 

 knowledge of our native species. 



Let us take the more objectionable kinds of land 

 mollusca first the " slugs." You meet with them, 

 black and white, in all your country strolls, especially 

 in the early morning, or after a shower of summer 

 vain. They need little or no description, as every 

 one is familiar with their elongated and naked black 

 and yellow bodies, with their " horns " or tentacles 

 in front, curiously peering into and feeling every- 

 thing the animal comes across. They belong to the 

 family Limacidse, and are air-breathing, although, 

 perhaps, you would not think so at first. We have 

 met with people who imagine that slugs are only 



