KEW : NOTES ON ARIOX ATER AND OTHER SLUGS. IOJ 



LLMAX AGRESTIS. 



A field slug was in the jar with the Arion ater referred to 

 above from 17th June to 4th July. It was not preyed upon by 

 the Arion, although I saw the latter attack it. It was noticed 

 feeding with the Arion on a dead Limax flavus, and on leaves 

 of lettuce. 



This slug will, it appears, bite as a means of defence. On 

 stopping, with my finger, the escape of one which was being attacked 

 from behind by a large Arion, it attempted to bite fiercely, and the 

 rasping of its odontophore was distinctly felt. Arion subfuscus, 

 Limax maximus, and possibly all the slugs, will rasp the skin if the 

 fingers are held to them when they are feeding, and they will continue 

 to do so for a considerable time, but in no case have I found the 

 skin to be abraded.* 



Between 9 and 10 p.m., on nth September, in a wood at High- 

 gate, I observed a pair of field slugs in copulation, on twigs near the 

 ground. 



LIMAX MAXIMUS. 



This species fed freely upon bread, and it also ate Rtissula emetica, 

 though somewhat sparingly. Ripe berries of Solatium dulcamara 

 were refused. A red specimen of Arion ater, about half-grown, was 

 in the jar with a fine adult Limax maximus v. mulleri thirty-three 

 days, and although they were without food more than half the time, 

 the Arion was not preyed upon. It was frequently attacked by 

 the Limax, and was denuded of its slime, and numerous small 

 pieces of skin were gnawed off both from the body and mantle. 

 Many slugs delight in pulling off and devouring the slime of their 

 fellows. In June, after a search in Hampstead Lane, I turned out 

 the contents of a collecting-box upon a newspaper, and the slugs 

 attacked each other fiercely, pulling off slime, but not inflicting 

 wounds. The box contained a large specimen of Limax maxima* 

 v. mulleri !, a smaller one of v. fasciata !, and two adults of 

 L. flavus ! f No attempt was made by the slugs to defend 

 themselves against the attacks, not even by the large mulleri 

 when attacked by the smaller fasciata, but they effected their 

 escape by crawling away, as it appeared to me, at an increased 

 speed. 



* But see note, 'Slugs biting,' by Mr. Gain, Science Gossip, July 1885. 



t Other slugs I have taken in Hampstead Lane during the year are : — 

 Testacella sattulum !, Arion Jiortensis !, Anialia gagatcs v. plumbea !, Amalia 

 marginata !, and Lima.x agrestis. 

 April 1889. 



