GASTEROPODA. 283 



Genus GeomalaCUS. 

 G, maculosus, Allman. 



On moist rocks, County Kerry, Mr. Andrews, 1842. Dr. Allman de- 

 scribes it as " a species of great zoological interest, constituting as it 

 does a remarkable link between Arion and Limax. It is an exceedingly 

 beautiful animal ; the colour of the shield and upper part of the body is 

 black, elegantly spotted with yellow, the under surface of the foot light 

 yellow, and divided into three nearly equal bands ; the edge of the foot is 

 brown Avith transverse sulci. It possesses a singular power of elongating 

 itself, so as at times to assume the appearance of a worm. By this means 

 it can insinuate itself into apertures which we could scarcely conceive it 

 possible for it to enter. This curious property indeed was very nearly 

 the cause of my losing the specimen from which the description has 

 been taken. I had placed the mollusc, as I supposed securely, in a 

 botanical box, when to my surprise I found shortly after that it had 

 transgressed the limits I had assigned it. 



" The creature, not liking its confinement, had insinuated itself beneath 

 the lid, which, not closing very perfectly, had alForded for its escape a 

 fissure of about a line in width. I was fortunately in time to re-capture 

 my prisoner, and the knowledge which I had thus gained of his habits 

 suggested a stronger prison for the future." 



Genus Limax. 

 Ii. maximus, Linn. 



This, the common " large grey slug," is equally abundant in North and 

 South. In the stomach of the Song Thrush [Turdiis musicus) I have 

 frequently found the shell of this species, the Limacella 2Mrma of Tur- 

 ton's Manual, after the animal of which it had been part had been en- 

 tirely dissolved. I have procured similarly the shells of the smaller 

 Limaces from the Blackbird {Tiirdus 3Ierula). This species is accused 

 by Miss M. Ball of making its way into pantries and eating holes in 

 bread. 



Rev. B. J. Clarke mentions the following varieties as found in Ireland. 



Var. A. Drap. and var. B. Ferus., in County Galway. 



yai"- B. Drap. ) County Cork, Dr. Ball, • 

 Var. Z. Ferus. ^ ^ ' 



Var. Y. Drap. and var. V. Ferus. Queen's County, and County 

 Galway. 



r,- ' '. ■ > County Cork, Dr. Ball. 

 Cinereo niger. J ■' 



Annals Nat. Hist., vol. vi. 

 L. arhoreus, Bouchard. 



N. of Ireland, on trees. 



Spire Hill Wood, and Enio Park, Queen's County. 



Monivea Wood ; Woods, Dunmore. 



Tuam palace demesne. 



Benvyle, in ruins of a chapel (Clarke, he. cit.). 



Annahoe, Tyrone, on beech trees, Mr. Waller. 



L.Jlavus, Linn. 



In Dr. R. Ball's collection are a number of these, which were brought 



