LIMAX FLAVUS. 81 



being strong and well developed, and the side-cutting points obsolete ; the inner 

 marginals are simply and strongly aculeate, but many of the extreme marginals 

 show a clearly distinguishable ectocone which must not be confused with the 

 angular appearance due to the basal corner of the tootli. 



The formula is a^ + n + gQ+i + tJO + ii+.Ti ^ 153^20 043. 



Reproduction and Development.— The act of pairing does not 

 appear to have been observed or recorded except by F^russac, who describes 

 the heads of the coupled individuals as touching but laterally opposed during 

 the act ; it is, however, af&rmed by Simroth that no spermatophore is 

 formed, the seminal element being transferred in a fluid state. 



The eggs are deposited in clusters of half-a-dozen to a score or more, 

 beneath logs and in other moist and convenient places; they are at first 

 colourless and perfectly translucent, tinged in some cases with amber, 

 roundly oval in shape, soft and very elastic, and about seven mill, long and 

 five mill, in diameter, usually though not invariably disposed in a series 

 united together by a yellowish albuminous mucus with which they have 

 become enveloped in their passage down the oviduct, and which by settling 

 between the eggs gives them their acuminate aspect at the poles. Although 

 the eggs are themselves very uniform in size, this mucous envelope varies so 

 greatly in thickness that the eggs may appear to range in size from seven to 

 eleven mill, in length even in the same batch. They are deposited from the 

 beginning of July even into December, and hatch in from forty to sixty days, 

 according to the weather, the young when hatched being about ten mill, 

 long, and of a pale transparent yellow, or they may be somewhat greenish 

 with a distinct light dorsal stripe and darker sides. They become adult 

 within the year. 



Food and Habits. — They are essentially nocturnal in habit, and very 

 gregarious, often congregating together one upon another in a striking way 

 for their siesta, and Bouchard-Chantereaux has remarked that one of their 

 ommatophores is nearly always half extended at those times. 



Though often found in moist woods and gardens, beneath turf, logs, under 

 stones or bark of old trees, in crevices of walls, etc., yet this species would 

 appear to prefer the shelter of artificial surroundings, being found most 

 commonly in damp cellars, vaults, sculleries, drains, outhouses, sides of 

 wells, and other similar places. 



It is an active and voracious species, feeding greedily upon bread, cooked 

 meat, and vegetables, and many kinds of table delicacies. It is also partial 

 to cream, butter, flour, and even soap, and will grow sleek and fat upon the 

 mildew found on damp walls. In a grocer's warehouse, in Leeds, L. flavus 

 was noticed to show an especial predilection for brown sugar. 



In a state of nature it is said not to devour the green leaves of phanero- 

 gamic plants, but to restrict itself to fungi and the minute lichens which 

 stain the surface of old walls or are found upon the bark of trees ; the 

 stomach, under ordinary conditions, being filled with almost all kinds of 

 garbage and mouldy growths. It will, however, eat the decayed leaves of 

 Vinca and Primula. 



In confinement, Mr. Gain offered 197 various kinds of food to this species, 

 but only the Mushroom, Psalliota campestris, Boletus edulis, and the root of 

 Carrot were eaten with avidity, though seventeen others were eaten freely, 

 amongst which Armillaria mellea, Russula heterophylla, Mrt/rasmius oreades, 

 Polyporus sqmmosus, the fruit of the Strawberry, the leaves of Holly and 

 Bryony, the stalks of Lettuce and Cabbage, the roots of Potato, Turnip, and 

 Swede may be especially mentioned. 



