186 " i 



nymphs in water, and when mature or adult are among the most 

 active of flying creatures. Of course, it would be practically impos- 

 sible for a Turtle to capture a winged Dragon Fly, but it would not 

 be surprising for these insects to die and their remains be picked 

 up by such reptiles. This may have been the explanation of the 

 occurrence of Dragon Flies in the winged stage in the stomachs of 

 two specimens of the Painted Turtle, The nymphs or young of 

 dragon flies were found in the stomach of ten Painted Turtles and 

 eight Speckled Turtles. Most of these were fragmentary and unde- 

 terminable as to species, but it was found that one Painted Turtle 

 and one Speckled Turtle had eaten young of the group called Dam- 

 sel Flies. 



The Odonata or Dragon Flies are decidedly beneficial insects, 

 especially as they are proven to be among the chief enemies of mos- 

 quitoes, which in turn carry to mankind certain diseases, such as 

 malarial and yellow fever. Thus in the destruction of dragon flies 

 mankind loses friends and benefactors. These and the crayfish are 

 among the few beneficial creatures eaten by Turtles, and but few 

 Dragon Flies in either the adult or young stage, are destroyed by 

 Turtles. 



The Plecoptera, or Stone Flies, also live in water when young, and 

 their economic value is similar to that of the May Flies in being 

 taken frequently as the food of insectivorous fishes. Three specimens 

 of Speckled Turtles were found to have eaten these insects. 



The Orthoptera, or Straight-winged insects, to which belong the 

 grass-hoppers, crickets and katydids, were scarcely noticed as the 

 food of Turtles, excepting of the Common Box Turtle, of whicli 

 seven individuals were found to contain insects of this order. Com- 

 mon Black Crickets were found eaten by one Musk Turtle and two 

 Common Box Turtles, and the Mole Cricket was devoured by th'-* 

 Painted Turtle. The Common Box Turtle fed upon the Short-horned 

 Grasshoppers, two specimens of this reptile having eaten the com- 

 mon and destructive Red-Legged Grasshopper; one also was found 

 to have fed on a Long-horned Grasshopper. 



It is very interesting to compare the food of the Common Lizard 

 (Pa. Zool. Bui. Vol. V. p. 257) and the Common Box Turtle and see 

 how closely these two widely different creatures agree in regard to 

 food items. This is no doubt due to the similarity of haunts or 

 regions occupied by them. It is notable that the aquatic turtles 

 were not found to have fed upon the Orthoptera or Jumping Insects. 

 As these creatures are decidedly known to be pests, an animal like 

 the Common Box Turtle feeding upon them extensively, as it does, is 

 of practical benefit to mankind. 



