SUBFAMILIKS OF GUYLLIDJE. 641 



Among the families of Orthoptera the Gryllidjx 1 and Tettigoni- 

 take a rank superior to all others. As Scudder (18(51)1), 233) 

 Las pointed out, the high specialization of the ovipositor of the 

 female and the perfection of structure of the stridulaling organ 

 of the male place these two families above all others in the scale 

 of Orthopterou life. That the two are very closely related can 

 be readily seen by any one who will carefully compare them, organ 

 with organ. The Gryllicke are placed first, however, by most en- 

 tomologists, as the great variety of form of almost any given or- 

 gan among them, when compared with its relative uniformity of 

 structure among the Tettigoniidse, seems to indicate the higher 

 rank of the former. Seudder adds : "I do not think it is without 

 meaning that the crickets often live in company, that they sing 

 both in concert and during day and night and are the closer at- 

 tendants upon man. Their stridulating organ too is more com- 

 plicated and more extensive and the pitch of their song is higher." 



The North American species of Gryllidse are herein divided 

 among eight subfamilies, all of which are represented in the ter- 

 ritory covered by this work. The following key is largely based 

 upon that of Saussure (1877, 185) which was used by Seudder 

 (1897c, 02). The Tridactylii have been separated from the Gryllo- 

 talpime, of which they heretofore formed a group or tribe, and 

 made a separate subfamily. The form of the antennae and the 

 one- or two-jointed tarsi are sufficient of themselves to justify this 

 proceeding, without taking into account the other important dif- 

 ferences. The Mogoplistii have also been raised to subfamily 

 rank as they are very different both in structure and habits from 

 the Myruiecophilinse w r ith which they have previously been placed 

 as a tribe. 



KEY TO SUBFAMILIES OF XOKTH AMERICAN 



Tarsi compressed, the second joint minute, compressed. 

 T). Fore tibias enlarged, fitted for digging; tympanum of male, when 

 present, without a speculum ; female without an exposed ovi- 

 positor. (Burrowing crickets.) 



c. Antennae setaceous, their joints very numerous; two large ocelli 

 present; size large, 18 or more mm.; body thickly clothed 

 with short hairs; all the tarsi three-jointed. (Mole crickets.) 



I. GRYLLOTALPINJE, p. 642. 



cc. Antennae filiform, 11-jointed; three small ocelli present; size 



small, less than 10 mm.; body smooth, shining; fore and mid- 



dle tarsi two-jointed, hind tarsi one-jointed or wanting. 



(Sand crickets.) II. TKIDACTYLIN.E, p. 654. 



l>b. Fore tibiae not enlarged; tympanum of male, when present, fur- 



nished with a speculum; female with well developed external 



ovipositor. 



