FAUNA. 



The Fauna of Groton includes all animal life. We begin 

 with the lowest, the Protozoans, one-celled, minute Amoeba 

 found in all fresh water. 



The Porifera Branch is doubtless represented by fresh- 

 water Sponges, although I have never found them. The 

 Coelenterata is represented by the fresh-water Hydra, very 

 small in all water. Vermes includes Worms, Hair Snakes, 

 Leeches, Earthworms. 



Mollusca — Fresh-water Mussels. Mussel beds are found 

 in the Nashua and Squannacook rivers. 



Valuable pearls have been found in those in the Squan- 

 nacook. Many kinds of Pond and Land Snails and Slugs. 



The Branch Arthropoda is represented by a great number 

 of species : the Cyclops, a very small water-flea ; fresh 

 water Cray-fish, Sow-bugs, Spiders, Mites of many varieties, 

 Centipedes, Millepedes, and Insects. 



INSECTS AND THEIR RELATIVES. 



There are thousands of species of Insects in Groton, some 

 injurious and some beneficial. Beginning with the lowest 

 order, Thysanura, are the Bristle Tails ; Silver Moth or Fish 

 Moth, Lepisma saccharina, found in closets eating cloth and 

 paper; also the Spring Tails or Snow Fleas, Achorutes nivi- 

 cola. Swarms of these may be seen covering the snow after 

 a thaw. 



The May-flies are in the Ephemerida Order, several species. 

 The Odonata Order contains the Dragon-flies ; thirty species 

 have been identified. The Plecoptera Order contains the 

 Stone-flies, one species. The young are found under stones 

 in brooks. The Isoptera Order contains the Termites, or 

 White Ants; these are not the real ants and are not very 

 common. The Corrodentia Order includes Psocids and 

 Book-lice ; the latter are the tiny creatures that scurry across 

 the pages of old books. The Mallophaga Order contains 



