SNAILS ANB SLUGS. 249 



Four-fifths of an inch long, small and smooth, with 

 dark tentacles, grey back, often a reddish sheen, and 

 bright grey or white under side. 



The Large Slug {Limax maximus). — Up to six 

 inches long, with black flecks on the hump-like mantle, 

 and black streaks on the rest of the body. 



In a large majority of cases where slugs appear to 

 an injurious extent, the grey field slug is the ofiender, 

 and I will therefore deal with it in greater detail. 

 What is said regarding the small species, however, 

 may be taken to apply to all the other kinds, should 

 they become a pest. 



The Grey Field Slug {Lvmax agrestis). 



The life of the grey field slug is very dependent on 

 moisture. During dry weather it rolls itself up and 

 hides in the ground, under a stone, or in some such 



Fig. 144 — The Grey Field Slug (,Limaa agrestis). 



place, where it is protected as much as possible from 

 completely drying up. At such times it only comes to 

 the surface to feed at night, but does so during the day 

 as well when the weather is wet. The field slug is 

 very destructive in fields and gardens, but this is only 

 the case in those years the great dampness of which is 

 specially favourable to its continuance and multiplica- 

 tion. The glassy eggs are laid in heaps containing 

 from six to fifteen, in damp concealed spots in the 

 ground, under moss, grass, etc., during August, Sep- 

 tember, and even October. A single slug may lay as 

 many as four hundred. The eggs are able to with- 

 stand extreme cold and extreme dryness, and moisture 

 makes them swell out again if they have shrivelled 



