THE NAUTILUS. 35 



"West coast, at least in California, the general locality being over 

 fifty miles from the sea, and the elevation over 1300 feet or more. 

 Mr. Bartsch remarks that his specimens were " darker than the 

 usual East American form, and not so large, the longest individual 

 (preserved in formalin) measuring 58 mm." This slug is said to 

 occur " in different parts of San Bernardino county." 



In point of size, examples 75 mm. or more are not infrequent. 

 Dr. Pilsbry, commenting on specimens sent to him a year or two ago, 

 said " that it was not the common form, but a melanistic variety 

 which I have never seen from the East." Hereabout there is con- 

 siderable variation in this respect ; occasionally individuals are met 

 with that are much darker than any of those sent to him at that time. 



In some places this slug has already become a pest. In my 

 grounds I have not found that it does any material damage to flow- 

 ers or plants, quite unlike Helix aspersa in this matter. It seems to 

 prefer the vicinity of the garbage can, which it exploits after dark, 

 being nocturnal in its wanderings, concealing itself in cool, damp, 

 dark or well-shaded places during the day. A greasy, cast-away 

 soup-bone is apparently to its liking, judging by the numerous slime- 

 tracks centering around such an object. It frequently invades human 

 habitations, directing its visits to the pantry. It is surprising how 

 small a hole or narrow crack even the largest individuals can pass 

 through. In order to keep them out, especially of the pantry 

 and porches, ordinary table salt in liberal quantities strewn around 

 and close to the threshhold, inside and outside of the pantry and 

 kitchen doors, and other places indicated by the shiny slime-tracks 

 as points of entrance, will do these pests up every time ; the salt 

 adheres to their sticky bodies, dissolves and is absorbed, and the in- 

 truders are literally corned to death. For all places about the 

 dwelling-house, salt is the safest and most effective article. Air- 

 slaked lime that has not lost all of its heat is also good. This should 

 be used freely in cellars and basements, and other places of conceal- 

 ment where the slugs occur. Another remedy, excellent, but too 

 poisonous to be used unless safely placed out of the way of children 

 or pet animals, is made by taking the refuse of the sou[)-kettle, add- 

 ing water so as to make when stewed a gruel of the consistency of 

 molasses ; mix with it, after straining out the coarser portion, some 

 Paris green ; daub pieces of board or old shingles with some of the 

 mixture, and place near such spots as tu^e indicated by the tracks. 

 This prescription is a settler. 



