Feb., 1908 .] 
Some Notes on Philomycus. 
265 
SOME NOTES ON PHILOMYCUS. 
V. Sterki. 
Philomycidae is a family of nearctic shelless land snails, or 
slugs. There has been a great deal of controversy with respect 
to the generic names, and also discussion on some of the species. 
The genus Philomycus was proposed by Rafinesque as ‘ ‘ differing 
from Limax by no visible mantle.” That was a mistake: the 
mantle covers the whole body except the front part of the head 
when the animal is extended, and a narrow seam along the sides 
of the sole. For that reason the genus was not recognized by 
Binney and other authors, and Tebennophorus Binney took its 
place. Yet, no one doubts now that Philomycus really means 
the same, and it is but just to revert to the earlier name. Raf¬ 
inesque also established the genus Eumelus as distinct from 
Philomycus by the position of the tentacles, a feature w r hich 
seems unintelligible. Later, E. S. Morse established the genus 
Pallifera on the ground that the jaw of Ph. dorsalis is strongly 
ribbed, odontognathous, while that of Ph. caroliniensis is smooth, 
and somewhat oxygnathous. But other species show inter¬ 
mediate forms. 
These interesting slugs are still insufficiently known, as to 
both their systematic position and distribution, and it is very 
desirable that they be worked up from good material. Students 
of nature are respectfully and urgently invited to collect spec¬ 
imens wherever encountered, and to send them for examination, 
living if possible, with a little damp moss, or alcoholic, (in which 
condition, however, they are badly contracted). They are 
mostly found retired, under loose bark and in cavities of dead 
tree trunks and stumps, preferably in damp, shady places. At 
night, they sometimes ascend trees. They may be found also in 
winter time, during open weather; entomologists and collectors 
of cryptogams thus may have chances to take the slugs. It is 
hardly necessary to say that they are not venomous and cannot 
bite, as is believed by some people. 
For the benefit of those who collect them, and naturally 
want some information about them, it may be in place to add a 
few notes with respect to the species and forms which have been 
seen from Ohio or can be expected to be found in the state. 
As pointed out, Philomycus is distinguished from Limax by 
the mantle extending over almost the whole body, while in the 
latter genus it covers only about the anterior half. Besides, 
there are other morphological and anatomical differences. 
1. Ph. caroliniensis Bose. (Limax caroliniensis Bose, 
Tebennophorus caroliniensis, in Binney, etc.), regarded as the 
type, attains a length of 100 millimeters when extended, but 
