RILEY ON ITS INSECTIVOROUS HABITS. 119 



ficial. Its larva* or maggots feed in. all kiuds of offal and putrid matter, and when 

 full-grown contract to coarctate pupoe whicli are usually found in the ground, but 

 frequently in the manure itself. 



House fly (Mwca domestica).— Stomach No. 5676 contained six house flies, and 

 numerous more or less mature eggs of the same. The larvae or maggots feed entirely 

 upon decaying animal and vegetal matter. 



Order Orthoptera. 



2&PHIDIUM sp. — A single young specimen of a species of the above genus of Meadow 

 Grasshoppers was found in stomach No. 195. 



The members of this genus of the Locusiidce ar* all distinguished by their small size 

 and by a nearly straight ovipositor. Like their near relatives, the Katydids, they 

 feed chiefly upon leaves of various kinds, but do not refuse succulent insects, as young- 

 caterpillars. The genus is common in our fields and gardens, where their shrill noise 

 is frequently heard during the late summer or fall. They make longitudinal punct- 

 ures in the pith of plants for the reception of the slender, elongate eggs. 



Gryllotalpa sp. — One leg of the Mole-cricket was found in stomach 5973. Mem- 

 bers of this genus are usually considered noxious, because they raise ridges in con- 

 structing their subterranean galleries, thus exposing the roots of grass and other 

 plants. Yet their food consists very largely of other insects. The Mole-erickets are 

 characterized by their enlarged fossorial fore feet, which recall those of the m©le in 

 shape, being stout, short, flattened, and armed with very hard and pointed project-ions. 



Caloptenus sp — Three undoubted pupae of a small species of Caloptenus, proba- 

 bly of femur-rubrum, were found in stomachs Nos. 152 and 195. Also several unrecogniz- 

 able remains of perhaps the same species in Nos. 6134 and 6267. This species, so closely 

 allied to its Western relative, the destructive C. spretus, is more or less numerous 

 every year, though it does but slight damage compared with its Western congener. 



In stomach 152 a large specimen of Caloptenus differenlialis was found. This is one 

 of the largest of our common locusts. The First and Second Reports of the United 

 States Entomological Commission are devoted to these destructive locusts. 



TETTixsp. — The remains of a single specimen of this small locust were found in 

 stomach 195. This Sparrow had evidently acquired a taste for orthopterons insects, 

 as three specimens of three different genera were eaten by it. 



The species of this genus are all relatively small, and thougn common in naauy lo- 

 calities, are not known to occasion any great damage to our crops. Most of them are 

 found along the edges of our forests and orchards between the dead leaves, and are 

 well protected in such places by their dark brown or gray color, which resembles that 

 of their surroundings. 



Order Nhuroptera. 



Perlid. — Stomach No, 6204 contained the remains of a neuropterous insect which 

 belongs to the family P&rlidm. 



Members of this family spend their early stages in rivers under stones. The adults 

 are frequently found resting on leaves in low damp places. Since the introduction of 

 the electric light for illuminating o'ur streets large numbers of these insects are 

 attracted thereto. 



Psocus sp. — Two specimens of Psocus were found in stomachs Nos. 6109 and 6204. 

 Psocus species are numerous and found almost anywhere. They are sometimes very 

 numerous in our yards and gardens, hiding between and under all kinds of rubbish, 

 but are esseutially innoxious. The species found can not be determined, owing to 

 its poor condition. It is remarkable that both escaped the grinding action of the 

 numerous pieces of gravel in the stomach. Some species feed upon dry vegetal sub- 

 stances and lichens, while a few are found only in bouses, and feed upon dry animal 

 matter. 



