70 
AEIONID^. 
variety^ sometimes form an irregular sub-hemisplie» 
rical spongy shell. 
It has a great geographical range^ being found 
equally in Ireland and Norway, and Italy and Spain. 
It deposits its bluish eggs in a cluster, in May, 
at the roots of plants. 
It feeds on dead and living vegetables, and some- 
times, according to Mr. Power {Linn» Trans, ix, 
323.), on dead earth-worms. 
The country people consider the appearance of 
this slug as an indication of approaching rain ; but 
this is rather to be accounted for by the moisture of 
the ground and of the plants. It is seldom, indeed, 
to be observed abroad during dry weather, for this 
would deprive the body of the moisture which is 
requisite for its existence, (Bingley.^ 
A black slug [Avion ater)^ placed in a box of 
sand taken fresh from the sea, after emitting a 
quantity of mucus, became reconciled to his situa- 
tion, and commenced eating the sand to extract the 
organic matter. The faeces were at first of a green 
vegetable colour, but were at length entirely com- 
posed of pure sand, the grains united together into 
their usual form by a little mucus. [Gray^ Ann. 
and Mag. N. H. ii. 310. 1829.) 
b. Shell imperfect^ rugose^ rarely wanting, '(Prolepis.) 
14. 2. Aeiox hortensis. Garden Arion. — Black, 
with grey longitudinal streaks ; edge of the foot 
orange; shell imperfect, rugose, or wanting, 
(t. 1. f. 16.) 
