THE MEDITERRANEAN NATURALIST 
373 
Anatomically A. Caruance differs from the A. 
agrestis in its generative system (Fig. 1 cl.) It has 
like the agrestis the sack of the verge turgid and 
swollen but at its superior extremity there are 
two thick protuberances, elongated, rounded and 
curved, between the bases of which rise 3 or 4 
fiagelliform appendages, slender, smooth, of dif- 
ferent dimensions and independent of one another 
from their base. While in the A. agrestis of the end 
of the sack of the verge there are one or two fia- 
gelliform appendages more or less branched and 
these branches are almost festooned and not 
smooth. 
Besides these differences Prof. Simroth observes 
that A. Caruance has not the short coecum on the 
rectum of A. agrestis , and he has noted to me that 
the first, inside the verge, has a stimulating papilla 
somewhat greyish, flat and shorter than that of 
A. agrestis. 
According to Prof. Simroth it is allied to A. 
nitidus , Morelet and A. Maltzani Simroth , but it 
quite deserves to be considered as a distinct local 
species. 
4. Amalia cakinata Ilisso. 
I have found this species only in the ditches 
outside of Porte des Boinbes Floriana, where in its 
proper season, it is very plentiful, under stones. 
Prof. Pollonera notes the remarkable develop- 
ment of the vestibular prostate, which sometimes 
in our A. carinata , takes a glanduliform appearance 
but having noticed this difference in the same spe 
cies from Messinh and also in the A. gagates from 
Sicily and Sardigna he does not consider it of 
sufficient importance to constitute a variety of the 
tipical A. carinata. 
5. Amalia gagates Drap. Maltese -Bugharuien 
tat-toroh. 
Limax nigricans , Mamo. 
„ gagates , „ 
„ nigricans , Issel. 
It is the commonest species found under stones 
in all damp places in Malta and Gozo e. g. Marsa, 
Fort Mangel, Hauli, Corradino, Ghiiglienti etc, 
Migiarro, Xlendi, S. Bias etc. 
It presents itself in three colour variations viz: — 
a. Forma typica — Shield and back very black; 
pale sides. 
b. plumbea Moq . Tand — Shield and back grey 
more or less dark; whitish sides. 
c. F. pallid issima, Pollonera — Totally whitish or 
ashy pale, when the animal is living. 
When it is immersed in alcohol it appears like 
the preceding variety, preserving only a lighter 
tint. But between this and the former variation 
there are many intermediate ones which offer all 
shades from black to an ashy white. 
To conclude it remains to me only to say that 
with the exception of L. flgvus, which is on the 
contrary commoner in summer, all the other species 
must be looked for from September to April, so 
that after a shower or a rainy day anyone may 
collect in winter a good number of specimens of 
ail species. One more detail I wish to add is 
about the voracity of L. gagates , which has in 
several instances killed and devoured L. melitensis , 
A. Caruance , , and even big specimens of L. flams 
when put together. L. gagates and L. flavus are 
two species which cause often not indifferent 
damage both to kitchen and flower gardens. 
The Street of Duels. 
Of the many quaint and curious corners that 
exist in Valletta the capital city of Malta none 
is more interesting, or has more melancholy me- 
mories attached to it than Strada Stretta or the 
Street of Duels, so called because it was the 
place to which the knights of the Order of St. 
John used to resort to settle their quarrels with 
the sword. It is a narrow thoroughfare, with 
high sombre looking buildings on either side of 
it the overhanging balconies of which almost meet 
and thus give to it a very medieval aspect. 
Most of these house were built by the knights 
either as private residences, or as Auberges for the 
various languages of the Order, and they are, 
therefore, all of the same, substantial and enduring 
type as are all of the works which were erected 
by those Champions of Christendom. Many of 
these Auberges are situated in or around this 
street, so that in the olden times it was one of 
the principal thoroughfares used by the knights. 
Being so militant a body of men, it is not to 
be wondered at that the rules by which their 
establishment w*as regulated should have been 
founded on some of the wildest, and most romantic 
principles of chivalry. The sword was the uni 
