Show I y s 's A Large Slug I SOME SoMiE time ago Mr W. W N. N Cole one J of the fruit tree inspectors of Salt Lake County sent a large slug to the University University University sity for examination and determination The slug is rather more than four inches i long and is probably the one known to naturalists as the maximus The slug may be described as an air breathing breathing breath breath- ing g snail without a shell Near the front end of its body and on its back is a fleshy plate which appears to be a rudimentary rudimentary rudimentary rudi rudi- shell Near the margin of this is found a small opening or pore leading leading lead lead- leading ing into the lung or air sac of the slug j The eyes ate two in number and are pl placed ced on tentacles on the well defined t head Slugs are seldom seen as they are mostly nocturnal in their habits During During During Dur Dur- ing the day they are usually found under boards and stones As soon as it becomes becomes becomes be be- comes dark they leave these places and crawl forth to feed on various forms of vegetation Birds are often blamed for damage really done by slugs but the careful observer will be able to decide which is causing the damage by remembering remembering remembering bering that the slug leaves a trail of whitish mucus wherever it goes Slugs frequently use this secretion to form a web by means of which they let themselves down to the ground from the branches of trees In Europe the slug causes great destruction in gardens but butas as yet they do but little harm in this country It is highly desirable that specimens of our native native slugs be collected and 7 q carefully studied W W. |