i8 93 .] THE BRITISH NATURALIST. 207 



added six slugs, Avion ambiguus, A. celticus, A. cottiamts, A. lucitanicus, 

 Limax cinereo-nigev (a var. of L. maximus) and the semi-marine Oncidium 

 (Peronia) celticum. 



Which of the first four further experience will decide to reduce to 

 varietal rank remains to be proved. If the whole of the twenty-seven 

 mentioned be added, the number of British land mollusks will be 

 brought up to one hundred and six. — W. A. Gain. 



Slugs. — Mr. W. E. Collinge of Mason College, Birmingham, is 

 about to bring out a new publication entirely devoted to Slug literature. 

 Assistance has been promised by most of the leading malacologists of 

 the the continent as well as of this country. The new publication will 

 be entitled " The Journal of Malacology." The only regretable 

 incident connected with the new work is that it sounds the knell of 

 our old and valued friend " The Conchologist." 



SUGARING. 



Various comments on the records that have appeared, have been 

 sent me by interested correspondents. Among others, Mr. Lewcock 

 writes : — " Do you not think there are other points to be brought out 

 in reference to sugaring. One is the hour at which certain moths 

 come to sugar, while others will not come at all or only sparingly. 

 The nights I considered best were dull with drizzling rain. Wind 

 was not a great detriment, only bottling was more difficult. We 

 ought to get something practical from all these records, something 

 concerning the habits of the species. The main thing, I take it, in 

 the life of the imago, is pairing, and spread what dainties we like, we 

 cannot entrap a female while busy in depositing her ova. Of course, 

 an impregnated female may be taken on sugar, and will commence 

 depositing her eggs at once, but that is not what I mean. For 

 instance, you will sometimes find a poplar tree literally beset with 

 A. megacephala all depositing eggs, and no attraction will induce them 

 to desert till they have completed their deposit. Certain of the Sallow 

 moths seldom come to sugar, but will readily go to limes. Some 

 swarm on the heath like Porphyea, but not at sugar. Sponsa and Pro- 

 missa come out early in the evening, even during daylight. The 

 Leucania come out at twilight, and the Agvotidcu after twilight. These 

 and many other points require to be brought out in the investigation." 



I would state that many of the observers have recorded the time 

 at which the various species came to sugar, but, in preparing them for 

 the press, I found it would take up a great deal of space to include this, 

 it is therefore reserved for tabulation afterw a; ds. Many other sug- 



