ASHFORD : NOTES FROM THE ISLE OF WIGHT. 135 



confined to the southern slopes of the Downs, and seems to 

 spend the greater part of its day in social amenities. 



Balia perversa. — This is not uncommon near Ham 

 Copse attached to the bark of beech and other trees during dry 

 weather. It also retires to the under side of fallen timber, asso- 

 ciating there with Zo7i. cellarius, CI. rugosa, H. rotiindata and 

 Coch. liibrica. The last four are frequently found together in 

 similar situations. 



Arion ater (?) — A very peculiar variety of this variable 

 slug occurred on a hedge by the Yarmouth and Freshwater road. 

 It differed from the typical form not only in color (no unusual 

 circumstance), but also in the apparent absence of tubercles on 

 the skin and the comparatively small bulbs of the tentacles. I 

 append a description from my notes : — Respiratory orifice at the 

 rear of the preceding third of the shield. Body gradually taper- 

 ing, light grey, slightly freckled with brown down the dorsal line ; 

 skin not tubercled, tight and smooth, marked longitudinally with 

 bluish vein-like pencillings ; neck bluish grey. Shield long- 

 yellowish in front, grey behind, darkly spotted on the upper part 

 with brown, less so at the tip leaving an ill-defined whitish patch 

 in the centre. Tentacles upper pair rather long, conical, dark 

 bluish-grey, surmounted with very moderate bulbs ; lower pair 

 comparatively very short. Keel none. Foot orange yellow in 

 front, very light lavender grey behind, with a bright deep-orange 

 fringe the whole length. Shell not to be found. Length, about 

 four inches. 



