44 



Common Garden Spider Argiope aurantia No. 153 



Differential Grasshopper Melanoplus differentialis 



Red-legged Grasshopper Melanoplus femur-rubrum No. 180 



Dorsal-striped Grasshopper Xiphidiwm strictum No. 180 

 Meadow Grasshopper Orchelimam vulgare, adult, 



and nymphs of vulgare 



or glaberrimum No. 180 



Texan Katydid Scudderia texensis No. 181 



These are all abundant species. 0. vulgare, by its persistent fid- 

 dling, is noticeable in all such grass spots during hot sunny weather. 

 A live differential grasshopper was found in the web of the garden 

 spider. A comparison of the two colonies of swamp grasses, Spartina 

 and Ely in us, will probably help to give one a general idea of the kind 

 of invertebrates which were abundant in the original swamp-grass 

 area of this vicinity. It will be noticed that grass and grass eaters are 

 the dominant species, and that upon these a smaller number of preda- 

 ceous animals depend. The characteristic species are the Orthoptera 

 and the garden spider. This spider, on account of its predaceous hab- 

 its, is able to live in a great variety of open situations, but does not 

 normally live in dense woodlands. 



3. Wet Area of Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata) , Station I, d 



This colony of swamp milkweed was about one eighth of a mile 

 north of the east and west cross-road. This flat, poorly drained black- 

 soil area, about 80 feet long, was wet throughout August, crawfish 

 holes being abundant (PI. IIIA, fig. 2; PL IIIB, figs. 1, 2). To 

 the east, beyond the boundary fence, in the adjoining corn field, stood 

 a pool of water surrounded by a zone of yellowish weakened corn, 

 visited occasionally by a few shore birds. Along the east side of the 

 newly formed railway embankment (PI. Ill, fig. 1) is a shallow 

 trench containing water and a growth of young willows (Salix) and 

 cottonwoods (Populus deltoidcs), also blue flags (Iris versicolor), 

 bulrush (Scirpus), and sedge (Car ex). The characteristic plants 

 over this area were the abundant swamp milkweed (Asclepias incar- 

 nata, PI. IIIA, fig. 1) and Bidcns. A few plants of water horehound 

 (Lycopus ) and dogbane (Apocynum medium) were present, and many 

 individuals of a low plant with a winged stem (Lythrum alatum). 



The collections (Nos. 1, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18, 32, 37, 45, 156, and 

 157) of animals taken here were as follows: 



