decaying wood, or enveloping itself in dead leaves in damp situations.

The eggs are white, and are deposited in a cluster under stones in spring. Like Arion ater, this Limax is infested with the slug-mite.

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LIMAX FLAVUS (the Yellow Slug) (Pl. VI., fig. 39).—This slug has a yellowish body, spotted with blackish-brown, and with numerous undulated or granulated ridges. The dental formula is 61161. The shield is short, broadly rounded behind, and marked with concentric granulated wrinkles. The shell is thin, very like that of L. maximus, but is smaller, about four lines long, and two and a half broad. It differs from L. maximus in having the end of the tail keeled, and in its inferior size and different markings. This large fleshy slug attains the length of four or five inches.

Its slime is limpid and yellow, but when the animal is irritated it secretes a thick bluish-white

mucus.

The species is gregarious and active, and is commonly found in cellars and damp places in our large towns. At nightfall it sallies forth from its place of retreat to feast upon the refuse lying about; it cleans bones well, and is fond of boiled potatoes and table delicacies : they invariably retire to their quarters at the approach of morning. When a candle-light is

brought near them they shrink back, but for a moment, and leisurely pursue their way; by the aid of this light they are pretty objects in their almost transparent flesh variegated with markings. It also occurs in damp places, beneath stones, and among plants in woods.

L. flavus is one of the few European Pulmonifera introduced to America; it occurs rarely in Portland, Maine.

LIMAX AGRESTIS-(the Field Slug) (Pl. V., fig. 30). The form is oblong, very convex above, the shield large, broader behind, marked with concentric lines; the body on the upper side of a yellowish-grey or pale brownish-yellow, often mottled with dusky and whitish, with numerous longitudinal interrupted ridges; it varies considerably in colour, being sometimes whitish or creamcoloured, or grey or dusky; back with a short keel, bent obliquely towards the end; the under side pale grey, margined with yellow. Length about an inch and a half; shell one line and a half long and one broad, concave above, concentrically wrinkled, with a membranaceous margin. The horny jaw is crescent-shaped, with blunt ends; the exterior surface is marked with numerous slight longitudinal ribs, which project over the cutting edge; the dental formula is 321-82 the central plate is longer than wide, carrying a tooth as long as itself, shouldered at the base;

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the laterals similar, but the apex not so central; the uncini are bidentated.

It is abundant, and generally distributed in fields, gardens, and woods. In gardens it is a serious pest; its ravages among crops, as oats, peas, clover, and tares, are such as often to necessitate the resowing of the land. We give a recipe for a decoy for snails and slugs :-Warm cabbage leaves until they are quite soft; suffuse the hands slightly with unsalted greasy matter, pass the leaves one by one between the hands, so that some taint of grease may be transferred to the leaf. Lay the leaves in the haunts of the slugs, which will attract them to their destruction. A few ducks, however, will be found to relieve one's garden of these pests more effectually than such agencies.

Limax agrestis is unfortunately very prolific, producing several families in the course of a year; according to M. Bouchard, two individuals have been observed to lay no fewer than 380 eggs. A very subtle enemy is at work at a very early period of the slug's life; for M. Laurent has found a fungus in the eggs, even before they are excluded from the parent.

The field slug is somewhat carnivorous, and cannibal-like inclined. When irritated, it emits a thick milky slime, which, when dry, leaves a white film: the nature of this slime and the

small size of the animal serve to distinguish this species.

L. agrestis is common in fields, and abundant in cellars and gardens in Portland, Maine; it is indigenous to Greenland.

LIMAX BRUNNEUs-(the Brown Slug) (Pl. VI., fig. 42). This slug was added to the British fauna by the late Dr. Johnston, of Berwick, who observed that it differed from every variety of Limax agrestis in its darker colour, its colourless mucus, in the abrupt termination of the tail, in the position of the shield, which is nearly central when the animal is fully extended, and in the size of the shield, which is as long as the posterior half of the body; nor is there any keel on this part.

It inhabits shady woods, in damp places, under stones, and amongst decaying leaves; and is comparatively rare in Berwickshire and in the north-east of England; at Thirsk, Yorkshire; woods between Cooper's Hill and Birdlip, Gloucester (Jones).

LIMAX TENELLUS-(the Tender Slug) (Pl. V., fig. 34).—This species finds a place in the list of British slugs in that a single specimen was found in a wood at Allansford, in Northumberland. The animal is yellow, with the back rounded, compressed near the tail; shield wrinkled; mucus yellow.