274 CRUISE OF THE BARRERA 



direction but because the species were mostly new 

 to our collecting. 



One of the striking forms always in evidence was 

 the giant Cuban slug ( Vaginula occidentalis) which 

 to our unaccustomed sight appeared to be an im- 

 possible creature. The largest slug we had ever 

 seen is the common garden Limax from Europe 

 and the Northern States (L. maximus), a large 

 example of which measures in size about one's 

 middle finger. This herculean slug is as large as 

 a man's hand. Its effective mode of protection 

 lies in a sticky mucus which it exudes when irri- 

 tated, otherwise so tempting a morsel of flesh 

 would soon be appropriated by birds or harassed 

 by the predatory ants that abound in such forest 

 station. Unlike most mollusks, the slugs have 

 no shell into which they may withdraw at an 

 enemy's approach. They have no teeth with 

 which to bite nor legs with which to run, but nature 

 has endowed them with an even better defense, 

 and they thrive in the midst of a world of predatory 

 creatures. 



The struggle for existence in so favored a spot 

 is very keen. Those creatures that peacefully 

 browse upon the vegetation and entertain no hos- 



