THE SNAILS AND SLUGS OF THE GREEN LANES. 20? 



abundant of any, and the breathing orifice is situated 

 at the hind part of the shield-like mantle over the 

 shoulders. It is a very omnivorous feeder, is fond 

 of garden produce, but does not object to devouring 

 earth-worms, or even to making a meal of one of its 

 own species. Its colour is a brownish-black when 

 adult, but the young are of a whitish or yellowish 

 colour. Its eggs, which are usually deposited in 

 May, among the roots of plants, are globular and 

 partly transparent. Singularly enough, on the 



Fig. 148. 



Limax Sowerbii. 



principle of the well-known lines, that "Greater 

 fleas have little fleas upon their backs to bite 'em," 

 the black slug is infested with a peculiar mite, 

 which may frequently be seen moving over the 

 animal's body, the slimy mucus apparently having 

 no influence in retarding their speed. These mites, 

 which form good microscopic objects, take up their 

 abode in the interior of the slug, getting inside 

 through the breathing aperture. The slug, however, 

 does not seem at all incommoded by its parasites, 

 but lets them wander to and fro of their own sweet 

 will. The Garden slug (Arion hortensis) is nearly as 



