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ON THE PAIRING OF LIMAX MAXIMUS. 



H. WALLIS KEW, F.Z.S., 



London ; formerly of Louth, Lincolnshire. 



It has long been known that circumstances of noteworthy 

 character are associated with the copulation of Limax maximus. 

 The union itself is remarkable ; and, amongst other things^ it is 

 found that paired individuals are suspended in the air, heads 

 downwards, by a cord of mucus. The circumstances probably 

 extend to our slug's allies, but otherwise, as far as the writer 

 knows, they are unique. The subject, admittedly, is of some 

 curiosity; and it is undesirable, I think, that our information 

 should remain widely scattered. 



The present paper is an attempt to bring together the 

 available information, to which one or two unpublished notes 

 are now added. For help in this, as in other tasks, I am deeply 

 indebted to Mr. G. K. Gude and Mr. R. W. Goulding, who have 

 obligingly prepared for me a number of translations. My thanks 

 are due, also, to Professor Laurent, Mr. Standen, and Mr. B. B. 

 Woodward ; and moreover I have to acknowledge, with sad 

 gratitude, the co-operation of the late most kindly malacblogists, 

 Mr. Ashford and Mr. Tye. 



The phenomena in question, though not often seen, have been 

 observed and described by several naturalists. The first account 

 known to the writer is that of Lister, published in 1678. Passing 

 over a somewhat obscure reference to the subject by Redi (1684), 

 our next author is Werlich (1819), who is followed by Boch- 

 Buschmann and other observers, the last account being that of 

 Mr. L. E. Adams, published in the 'Journal of Conchology ' 

 in 1898. 



At noontide on a fine day in August, Lister saw two Li?nax 

 maximus — -or, as he writes, Limax cinereus, maximus, striatus 

 & maculatus — freely hanging in the air, heads downwards, from 

 a knot on the trunk of an old willow. .They were sustained by 

 a thick thread, half a yard long, made of their own slime and 

 attached to their tails, which were intertwined ; and, while in 

 this position, each animal thrust out, from the right side of the 

 neck, a large copulatory organ. The two organs were soon 

 intertwined, and it was wonderful to see, says Lister, to what 

 an extent they swelled out and with what beautifully striated 

 plumes they were adorned ; their colour was pale azure ; and 



1901 August 2.. Q 



