(IKIIM \r. ACTS MA(Tr-OSrS. '2:tl 



sluipeJ iiiarkiii.n's, us in A /■/mi, Imt tliesi.' Liccniiie indistinct as i;ri.)wtli 

 proceeds: tlicy pruliulil)' pass llie\viiityr in llir iinniatnrc stan'e, and still 

 sliuw at tliat iiei'ii.id tlie lateral bandiun' iniirli ni(.)re cuiispicnnnsly than 

 at maturity, a state wliicli they attain duriiii;- the early snnniier nn.iuths. 



Food and Habits. — The immature animals are much less sluggish 

 and shy than the adults, and cra.wl actively ahmit, the movements of the 

 locomotory muscles being distinctly apparent in the somewhat transparent 

 mid-area of the sole, ami showing about tifteen muscular waves at one 

 time. The animal, even when fully grown, can elongate and Hatten its 

 body to such a. degree that it is afile to insinuate itself and pass thrrmgh 

 a hole only two mill, in diameter, but when handled or irritated it has 

 a curious habit of coiling-up into a perfect s]ihere, exactly in the same way 

 as certain species of woodlice. 



The habitats of Geo/wdar/is in Ireland are by iireference near the sea- 

 coast, on the bare mountain slopes of the Old lied .Samlstoiie formation, 

 which are partially covered with a peaty soil overspread l:iy heather, etc., and 

 on which the exposed, deeply-rifted rock surf ices are cheiiuered by lichens, 



I'l 



-Rifled Old Reil S.ind^l(jnc r. 

 ■.ground on which ticoiitaUxcin 



cks, ill Cloonee (den, ne.-ir Kenni.Tr 

 maculosKS ahiounds (photo. \<\ Mr 



loivins th 

 Welch). 



liverworts, and musses, whose lm\uriant growth is favoured l.iy the moist, 

 warm vapours brought in liv the south-west winds from the ({ult-Stream, 

 and which also firm the driving mists and tdouds which are so character- 

 istic a feature of the ( i,'„i//al,ini/^ aa-ea, as ail the loftier hills are almost 

 constantly mist-drencbed when raiu is not actually lalling. 



It is a truly geophiloiis species, and very seldom a.scends trees, though 

 occasionally found thereon, but like other slugs, especially when youn.u, is 

 c.ipable of spinning mucus-threads, and in captivity has lieeii observed by 

 Mr. II W. Kew to ([uickly ])i-oduce one a, toot lu length. At or(hnary 

 times not only (Ui dull, cli.udv. (bim]) days, but also occa,sionail,v during 

 siiiniv weather, (W,//wdarui< lives and rests .piite openly and coiispicuoush- 



