198 OETHOPTEEA, 



Pam. GEYLLID-ffil*. 



The members of this family resemble the Locustidse in their saltatorial habits, and 

 also in being furnished with an ovipositor f ; they have long setaceous antennae, and a 

 musical apparatus on the elytra. The Gryllidae form, however, a very distinct family, 

 differentiated from the Locustidse by the following characters : — 



1. The tarsi are only 3-jointed. 



2. The elytra in repose lay flat on the body; their discoidal field is united to 

 the anal field, so as to form a single dorsal plane, and not well separated from each 

 other ; their marginal field alone being deflexed perpendicularly downwards, covering 

 the sides of the body. 



3. The tympanum or musical organ of the elytra extends on to the discoidal as well 

 as the anal field, and often covers it almost entirely. 



In the Locustidee the tarsi are 4-jointed ; the discoidal field of the elytra is joined on 

 a single plane with the marginal field, and occupies a lateral, somewhat perpendicular, 

 position, the anal field alone remaining in the dorsal plane : the musical organ of the 

 males is thus confined to the anal field. 



The family Gryllidae having already been monographed J, it is unnecessary to repeat 

 here the synopses of genera, or to give detailed descriptions of them. 



The Gryllidae may be divided into six tribes as follows : — 



Synopsis tribuum. 



1. Tarsi compressi, secundo articulo compresso, minuto. 



2. Pedes antici fossores ; tibiis anticis apice digitis 2-4 instructis. Pronotum elongatum, 

 ovatum, postice arcuatum. Feminae absque ovipositore ; marium elytrorum tympanus, 

 quando adest, absque speculo. — Gkyllotalpinje. 

 2, 2. Pedes antici gressores. Feminarum ovipositor perspicuus elongatus (vel rudimentarius). 

 Marium elytrorum tympanus, quando adest, speculo minuto instructo (nisi abortivo) . 

 3. Tibiae posticse biseriatim spinosae. Ovipositor rectus. 



4. Antennae breves, subfiliformes, crassiusculae. Scutellum faciale inter antennas 

 exsertum. Tibiae posticae dilatatse. — -Myrmecophiliioe. 

 4, 4. Antennae longae, setaceae. Scutellum faciale transversum, infra antennas perspi- 

 cuum. Tibiae graciles. 



* By Dr. Henki de Saussttre. 



Principal works referred to for this family : — 



H. de Satjssttke, ' Mission Scientifique au Mexique etc.,' Orthopteres. (Vide supra, p. 13.) 



H. de Sattsstjke, ' Melanges Orthopterologiques,' t. ii. fasc. 5 (1877) and 6 (1878). 



f The Gryllotalpinae form an exception, being adapted to a subterranean life, which renders an ovipositor 



$ By Dr. Henri de Saussure. 



