ECONOMK' IMPORTANCE OF SOWBUGS. 19 



ground under the honeysuckle. On July 3, at 7.30 p. m., the .sowbugs 

 were just commencing- to climb the various plants, and none Avere 

 feeding as j-et. On the honeysuckle 19 were seen at various heights 

 up to 3 feet, and all but tAvo on tlie stems and moving upward. 



The following definite proofs of the scavenger habits of this sow- 

 bug Avere obtained: May IT a dead rat near the house was found 

 covered with a great number of sowbugs and almost entirely eaten, 

 even the skin being eaten in places. At another time several sowbugs 

 were discovered diligently cleaning a peach pit. 



Concerning the haunts of these animals the following observations 

 were made : In April and JSIay there Avas considerable moisture, and 

 under every shaded, moist board, cinder, and clod, and under straAv, 

 refuse, garl)age, and carrion, one could easily find many adult sow- 

 bugs and multitudes of young. In the cotton patch, at the base of 

 each plant, the ground became cracked, and here sheltered great num- 

 bers of soAvbugs, which very likely did injury to the roots. May 17, 

 under the trees and in shady places, the soAvbugs Avere so plentiful 

 that at every step numbers Avere crushed. July 3, at 8 p. m., sowbugs 

 to the number of 11 Ave're found on an oak tree, the highest being 5 or 

 6 feet above the ground. July 26, in the late afternoon and early eA^en- 

 ing, some fiA'e dozen sow-bugs Avere found in cracks and holes on three 

 trees, many of them as high as could be seen. 



Regarding the effect of natural and field conditions upon these 

 crustaceans certain notes Avere made. Susceptibility to varying 

 Aveather conditions was A^ery noticeable. May 25, at 7.30 a. m., 

 a large number of soAvbugs had gathered at baits. At 8 o'clock a 

 sudden storm commenced to rise. The sowbugs seemed immediately 

 conscious of danger and hastened in all directions for the highest 

 shelter possible, gaining protection on the fence and beneath the 

 clapboards of the house. All Avere out of sight Avhen the first drops 

 of Avater fell. In April and May there Avas considerable rain, and 

 during the periods of sunshine, at Avhatever time of day, the soav- 

 bugs Avere to be seen everA^Avhere, craAvling over the sideAvalks and 

 paA-ements. April 23 and 21 the ground Avas drenched Avith Avater, 

 and on the 2.')tli dead soAvbugs Avere to be found cA-erywhere on the 

 ground and on the sideAvalks. On June 3 a similar observation Avns 

 made in a spot Avhere the Avater had stood for several days. By 

 June 15 the intense heat had driven the soAvbugs from the open so 

 that fcAV could be found in unprotected places. 



The Avriter's notes upon the biology of the isopods are based on 

 observations of about a thousand individuals in the large series of 

 experiments that has been already reiVrriMl to. 



Copulation Avas frequently noted out of doors during April and 

 May. The males may be distinguislied from the fenudes by their 

 colors as Avell as by the specific sexual characters. They are a 



