S2 LIMAX FLAVUS. 



The i-ioming' faculty is strongly exemplified in this species, and this trait 

 in its character has been often ab.undantly verified. 



It is capable, at least when young, of spinning a mucous thread by which 

 it can lower itself from branches or other places from which it may desire 

 to descend. 



Parasites. — Lhmt.r Jlavuff is particularly liable to be infested by the ecto- 

 parasitic Acavus, known as Philodromu>< limacunr L., a circumstance said 

 by F(5russac to be due to a strong odour resembling that of decaying wood 

 which emanates from it and which also similarly attracts many wood-lice. 

 This species is also preyed upon, according to Whiteaves, by the larva of 

 the Coleopteron l>rilus flfivesccns. 



Variation. — Tliis species, though under ordinary conditions remarkably 

 constant in its coloration and character, is liable to a temporary change of 

 aspect under the influence of prolonged abstinence from food or continued 

 irritation. The yellow colour of the body being wholly or in great part due 

 to the slime by which the body is invested, explains this transient instability 

 of the colouring iu this species.'* 



When living within the shelter of human habitations it is said to be 

 more vividly coloured, but according to Locard does not attain to the size 

 of the examples living in the open air. The brightness of its colouring be- 

 comes dimmed with the loss of its active energy, prolonged irritation, and 

 abstinence from food, the yellow body-tint changing to a dull olive or grey. 

 In the ordinary course, these animals in most districts darken with age, 

 and as a rule are darker in colour out of doors than when living under shelter. 



The chief differences are due to variations in the ground colour, and to 

 the intensity and completeness of the suffusion by the darker secondary 

 pigmentation, this suffusion emanating from the irregularly maculate mark- 

 ings, without exhibiting any tendency to run into banding. 



Among the anomalies that have been observed, one with a well-marked 

 bifurcate tail, found by Mr. C. Oldham, at Alderley Edge, in Cheshire, is 

 worthy of especial mention. 



VARIATIONS IN COLOUR OF ANIMAL. 



Var. albina Taylor. 



Animal quite white. 



Bavaria — Two apeciiiiens from tlie casemates at Wurzbiirg, June 1S7G (S. Fries, 

 Zool. All/., 1S7U, p. 155). 



Var. flavescens Per., Hist. Moll, ISlll, p. 71, pi. 5, i. 3. 



Animal yellowisli, witli markings indistinct. 



Cornwali W.—Scilly Isles,' Aug. 1890! Rev. K. Dale Rol.cils. 



Surrey —Cobliam, specimens in Jiritisli Museum, from Dr. Leacli (T. D. A. Cock- 

 erel 1, in litt. ). 



Middlesex—Muswell Hill road, Higligate, June 1S89 ! H. Wallis Kew. 



Elgin— South ('oUege, Elgin, Dec. ISliO ! G. Cordon. 



Belgium— Itrussels and Lou\ain (Colbean, Ann. Soc. Mai. IJelg., 18(i.'i, ]i. 48). 



France- iMcqueiit in )uoist and eohl houses iu I,yons ; rather eomnion in vaults 

 and cellars in the department of the Ain ; and at MontpcUier, lie/iers, Lodeve, St.- 

 Pons, Ganges, etc., in the Her.ault. 



Italy— laguria, Tuscany, Sardinia, and Sicily (Les.sona & Polloncra, Mono". 

 Limac Ital., 1882, p. U). 



Var. rufescens iMoq.-Tand., Hist. Moll. Franco, 18.')5, p. 25. 



Animal reddish, with the markings somewhat iudistinct. 



Warwick -Slrn,tford-on-y\\(in, Sept. 1884 ! II. ,1. Attye. Cellar, Edgbaston, 

 July 1898 (Collinge, J. of Mai., Dec. 1898, p. 5U). 



1 Monog. i., p. 312, f. 002. 'I Monog. i., p, 123, f. 738. 3 Monog. i., p. 327. 



