scratching their heads.

The animals, which are also known as "the undertakers of the sea'', have been spotted in an area stretching from Flatts Village up to Tobacco Bay.

Dr. Wolfgang Sterrer, curator of the Bermuda Natural History Museum, said he had had several calls about the black slugs, and some people had tried to turn the 12 inch animals back out to sea in a bid to save them.

Dr. Sterrer said: "One of the staff members said they have seen six on the North Shore, I have never seen more than one or two.

"I have no idea why there are so many, these are mature animals that have probably been stuffing themselves on seaweed and now they are ready to mate, and disappear.

"Maybe there are so many because there has been a bumper crop -- it is rather mysterious but also rather nice.'' The slugs are not dangerous, but if approached or squeezed they can emit a purple dye.

SLUGGING IT OUT -- A sea slug floats on the water surface off North Shore, one of many slugs that have found their way to Bermuda's shores in the past few days.