ADAPTATIONS TO HAUNTS AND SEASONS 265 



most varied surroundings. Large numbers may often be 

 seen in garden rubbish-heaps and on farm-land around 

 decaying organic matter. Literally myriads have been 

 observed at the sewage outfalls of large towns — whether 

 on the sea-coast as at Dublin, or on the sewage farms 

 around Manchester and other populous cities of northern 

 England. At Edinburgh and elsewhere it has appeared in 

 multitudes on the water drawn from street hydrants, and 



Fig. 66. — a, Sprlngtail Achoriites viaticus, side view, X 36 ; 6, right 

 group of ocelli and post-antennal organ, X 240; c, hind foot, X 300; 

 d, dens and mucro of spring, X 240. 



such occurrences, which have naturally attracted the 

 attention of those responsible for the public health, may be 

 explained by the sweeping in of colonies of the springtail 

 in times of flood from waterside haunts in the catchment 

 area of the town's supply. Achorutes viaticus is often 

 common on the sea-shore, sometimes below high- water 

 mark ; the little insects crowd around the rich food- 

 store in a putrid starfish. Similarly in most European 



