C)0 THE BRITISH WOODLICE. 



Oniscus asellus is one of the largest of our woodlice and it is 

 also probably the commonest, though Porcellio scaber is in many 

 places quite as abundant. The body of Oniscus is broad and 

 expanded and the colour is usually a slate grey with yellowish 

 markings more or less regularly arranged. 



From the genus Porcellio the species with which we are 

 concerned is at once distinguished by the three 

 jointed flagellum. Porcellio has but two joints 

 and has besides a prominent lobe projecting 

 from the middle of the head, which is not seen 

 in Oniscus. Philoscia, although it has three joints 

 to the flagellum, has a narrow abdomen and 

 lacks entirely the lateral lobes which are a 

 feature of the other genera of Oniscidae. 



Oniscus fossov of Koch (34) was recognized by 

 Kinahan and by Bate and West wood as a 

 species. Dr. ScharfT submitted specimens to 

 Professor Budde-Lund who found no differences 

 between them and Oniscus asellus. The former 

 (63) mentions, however, that the characteristics 

 fig. 43.— flagellum f t h e supposed species are those of young 



AND LAST PEDUNCULAR r r r J ° 



joint of the antknna examples of Oniscus asellus, and Professor Sars 



cf Oniscus asellus. r 



(59, p. 173) seems to be of the same opinion. 

 Many young examples of Oniscus asellus that we have examined 

 have a curious whitish transverse band owing to the light colour 

 of the dorsal plates of the first abdominal segments. The 

 flagellum also does not seem to shew in young animals a distinct 

 division into three joints. 



BRITISH LOCALITIES :— 



England : High Beach, Epping, including an albino ; Maldon ; 

 Brightlingsea ; Iver ; Hanwell; Eton; Kew ; Pamber Forest; 

 Kingston-on-Soar ; Bluebell Hill, Maidstone ; (W. M. W.) : 

 Lynmouth ; (W.M.W. from J.T.C.). 



Scotland : (ScharfT, 63). Dinnet, Aberdeenshire ; (W.M.W. 

 from Madame Christen 



Ireland : (ScharfT, 63). Yellow form with black spots, Donegal 

 (R.W.) 



FOREIGN DISTRIB UTION :— 



Europe: Almost throughout; (12): France; (25): Spain; (12): Sweden; 

 Norway; Denmark : Germany ; Holland ; Italy ; Iceland ; (59) : Faroe Islands ;. 

 Thornsharn ; (R.F.S.) 



Africa : Azores ; (24). 



America : Greenland ; (59) : North America ; (Budde-Lund). 



