SLUGS. 
Genus Geomalacus . 
Geomalacus maculosus— (the Spotted Irish Slug) 
(PI. VI., fig. 40)—was discovered by Mr. W. An¬ 
drews^ in 1842, in co. Kerry. This interest¬ 
ing slug-like mollusk is generically allied to 
Arion, and is a remarkable link between it and 
Limax . It differs from both in the position of 
the generative aperture ; its shell approaches to 
that of Limax, is solid, flat, ungniform; the res¬ 
piratory orifice is placed more anteriorly than in 
Limax; and it possesses a mucous gland at the 
extremity of the tail. G. maculosus is an exceed¬ 
ingly beautiful animal; its length when creeping 
is about two inches; the colour of the whole 
upper surface is black, elegantly spotted with 
yellow or white; the under surface of the foot 
light-yellow, and divided into three nearly equal 
bands; the margin of the foot is brown, trans¬ 
versely furrowed. Dr. Allman describes it as 
possessing a singular power of elongating itself 
so as at times to assume the appearance of a 
worm; by this means it can insinuate itself into 
apertures which we could scarcely conceive it 
possible for it to enter. 
The haunts of Geomalacus are thus depicted 
by its discoverer :— 
“ Lake Garogh lies to the south of Castlemain 
g 2 
