142 MIL AX GAGATES. 



bulging atrium, is probably preceded by mutual exchange of blandish- 

 ments and stimulatory actions, the operation itself occupying many hours, 

 this great length of time being necessary to allow time for the secretion of 

 the spermatophores and for their mutual transference. 



The eggs are slightly oval in shape, transparent, delicate, and thin 

 shelled, and measure 2 mill, in length and 1^ mill, in width. They are 

 agglutinated together by a colourless mucosity and deposited in moist 

 spots in the soil, or beneath some protection,' and hatch in less than a 

 month ; the young, according to Prof Krause, when excluded are white, 

 with a semi-circular black band on the mantle, and the margin of the 

 pallial gutter filled with pigment ; they may afterwards become tinted with 

 grey, especially towards the end of the keel, following this by assuming a 

 reddish colour, with a greenish tint at the sides, and although all do not 

 follow in the same line of colour development, yet as they increase in 

 size they gradually assume the adult coloration. 



Food and Habits. — Milax gagates is a shy and retiring species, and 

 of nocturnal habits ; though more active than its congener, it is also 

 addicted to a somewhat subterranean mode of life, but may be met with 

 crawling on the earth during the day after long-continued or heavy rain. 



Though essentially a ground slug, frequenting heaps of decaying veget- 

 able matter, the foot of old walls, hedgerows, and amidst thick herbage or 

 tufted plants, in gardens, etc., yet it has at times been noticed crawling up 

 the trunks of apple and lime trees, and upon old walls. 



It can spin mucous-threads easily and well, and quickly avails itself of 

 •this method of reaching the ground when placed in distasteful positions. 



When at rest it assumes, according to Dr. Norman, a more rounded, form 

 than any other British Limax, so contracting itself that its height is but 

 little exceeded by its length. 



Though perhaps chiefly vegetarian, and very destructive to young plants 

 and underground roots and bulbs, yet it is also not only carnivorous but 

 predaceous, eagerly destroying and devouring Helices and slugs, and even 

 sickly or weaker individuals of its own kind. 



In captivity it is very omnivorous, as out of 195 different kinds of food 

 offered to it by Mr. Gain it ate more or less readily 173, though only 

 devouring with eagerness potato tubers and the root of carrot. 



Fossil. — It has been reported from the Pleistocene deposits near Port- 

 land Bill, Dorset, on the authority of Prof Prestwich (J. C. Mansel-Pleydell, 

 Moll. Dorset, 1898). 



Variation. — The external variation in Mila.r gagates would appear to 

 be more largely geographical and less sporadic than in many species, 

 although M. Bourguignat describes it as a variable species, sometimes 

 greenish or yellowish or even bluish in colour. 



British specimens are generally smaller, smoother, more pellucid, and 

 paler than those inhabiting more southern and warmer districts. The 

 Mediterranean forms are often large, black, more opaque, and more rugose 

 than our British specimens, and the black pigment tends to invade the 

 side-areas of the sole ; this major form has been especially noticed in 

 Algeria, and has been regarded as a sub-species by Prof Cockerell, under 

 the name of Amalia mediterraiim. In Sicily, this pigmentation of the 

 sole is not so far advanced, the side-areas being still grey ; this transitional 

 stage has been distinguished as forma similis, while closely-allied indi- 

 viduals from Morocco have been differentiated as forma atlantim Ckll. 



