15 



achs. 'I'oiuls taken along the shore at Revere, Massachusetts, 

 yielded several Melampus bidentatus Say.* while Helix sp? occurred 

 in a few stomachs. An interesting point in this connection is the 

 fact that the shells of these animals were more or less dissolved by 

 the digestive fluids. Shells from the lower part of the stomachs 

 were almost entirely dissolved. 



Crustacea. INIembers of the sub-order Isopoda commonly called 

 ''sow bugs," 0/Jt.sc«.s' sp., Porce/Zio sp., occurred in nearly all the 

 stomachs, yet formed but tw^o per cent of the total food. The 

 greatest number were found in September when they constituted six 

 per cent of the food for the month. These creatures are a great 

 nuisance in greenhouses where they eat the roots of orchids, violets, 

 pansies, young roses and other plants. In destroying these Crustacea 

 the toad renders a distinct service to gardeners. 



Myriapoda. Myriapods form a constant article of diet for the 

 toad. Species of the genus Jidus were present in the majority of the 

 stomachs examined, the largest number found in a single stomach 

 being seventy-seven. These creatures form ten per cent of the food 

 for the season. They are commonly injurious to low growing fruits 

 and garden crops, as a glance through the literature of economic 

 entomology will amply prove. Of the damage to potato crops occa- 

 sionally resulting from these myriapods. Prof. J. A. Lintner has 

 given a most excellent account in his third report on the Insects of 

 New York, page 133. Prof. C. H. Fernald informs me that a 

 species of Julaa often attacks newly planted potatoes. In green- 

 houses they feed upon plants in beds and destroy the roots of lettuce, 

 geraniums, orchids, etc. 



Arachnida. Spiders occur in the stomachs of toads in all months, 

 but form only two per cent of the total food. This destruction of 

 spiders should be counted against the toad, since they feed on flies, 

 small moths and other insects, many of wdiich are obnoxious or injuri- 

 ous to man. The damage resulting from the destruction of this 

 small (innntity of spiders, however, may be counterbalanced by the 

 benelit fioin the killing of injurious "sow bugs" and snails. 



* Kindly identiflecl for me by Mr. Jolm llitcliie, -Ir., ISoston, Massacliusetts. 



