Among the gifts Europeans brought to parts of North America, including here in Newfoundland, was this big black slug, Arion ater.

This week, early August, they seem all to be out searching for their kind, and sitting (hornily?) in the middles of human gravelly paths. They don't move very quickly there, or elsewhere.

They are pretty, and they look like my favourite candy as a child, black licorice. When I see them, I always have the quick thought that they should be tasty.

Fifty years ago, I had a friend who ate a few (yechhhh!) but, despite his claim they tasted like lime, I expect they are neither tasty nor good for you.