6272 



Fishes — Mollusks. 



species to the females, and so like a portion of their own bodies, that it would be no 

 difficult matter to mistake the two for one : there were no males found, but those on 

 the females. A monster *' Carldadie," as we call it here, or ribwort plantain {Plantago 

 lanceolata)^ — a somewhat strange and peculiar-looking specimen of this common plant, 

 — was met with lately near Banff: it is a well-known fact, for almost every child knows 

 it, that this plant is single-flowered, and that the flower-stalk grows up entirely desti- 

 tute of leaves, these adhering solely to the root: in this case, however, it was difl*erent, 

 there being no fewer than thirteen leaves and three flowers on the top of a single 

 stem: the stem was nineteen inches in height, and very stout. — Thomas Edward ; 

 Banff, October 8, 1858. 



Occurrence of the Immaculate Wrasse at Weymouth. — I have to record the capture 

 of a specimen of the immaculate wrasse (Labrus carneus, of Bloch) : it was taken by 

 my relation, Mr. Edward Kynaston, whilst fishing with me at the back of the Portland 

 Breakwater, on the 27th of September last ; we were fishing for whiting pout, with 

 shrimps for bait. This is the second specimen that has occurred to me ; the other, 

 which was also obtained in Weymouth Bay, I recorded on the 10th of October, 1853. 

 The specimen last obtained I have preserved in spirits, and have deposited in the 

 Weymouth Museum. — William Thompson; Wet/mouth, October 6, 1858. 



The Loves of the Slugs (Limax cinereus). — I know not whether you may remember 

 that, about fourteen or fifteen years ago, having observed (as I then thought) a most 

 anomalous method of copulation with some of the Limaces (Limax cinereus), I in- 

 quired if you could inform me of any work in which it was described, it being so very 

 singular that I hesitated to send you a description of it; but having had this summer 

 some opportunities of observing it again, and verifying my former notes, it seems that 

 it is the normal mode of copulation, with that species at least. I now forward it to 

 you for insertion in the ' Zoologist.' In the supplementary part of Cuvier s * Animal 

 Kingdom' (Griffith's edition), vol. xii., Mollusca, p. 325, it is stated, " Their general 

 activity increases according to the temperature. It is generally about the end of 

 spring and in summer that they seek each other for the purpose of reproduction. We 

 know but little respecting the particulars of their intercourse. They are hermaphro- 

 dites, and give and receive impregnation at the same time. The organs of generation 

 are situated near the neck. A very short time after intercourse, and generally 



in the month of May or June the Limaces lay eggs." Towards midnight, in the 

 close, sultry summer nights, from June to September, a couple of Limaces may be ob- 

 served slowly following each other, with the mouth of the second resting on the tip of 

 the tail of the first, as it may be termed (the extreme point of the foot). I have not 

 been able to ascertain whether it takes hold of the tip with its mouth, or merely rests 

 upon it, but from the equable motion of the two I should expect the former was the 

 case, the second following every sinuosity of the tortuous course taken by the first, 

 without the least deviation, for a considerable time (I watched one pair upwards of a 

 quarter of an hour without any alteration in their relative positions) ; they then ascend 

 some wall, or other perpendicular surface near where they happen to be ; when they 

 finally stop the second crawls up alongside the first ; they then crawl around each other 

 circularly, during which time they emit a large quantity of mucus, which forms a 

 patch two inches to two and a half inches in diameter: as soon as the mucus 



