182 BRITISH ORTHOPTERA. 



hoppers will sing as vigorously as if in their native 

 haunts." 



After death, while the muscles are still rela.xed, 

 the chirping may be produced mechanically by moving 

 the wings as the insect does. 



Porritt states* that in the second half of August 



o 



3, near Deal in Kent, it occurred in plenty. It 

 was found most readily after dark by the aid of a 

 lamp, and a dozen adult specimens might easily have 

 been found in an evening on the tops of the rank 

 herbage skirting the sandhill ditch. This grasshopper 

 bites readily and fiercely, so it is best to hold it by 

 both its long hind-legs. If one only is held, the insect 

 will break itself free, leaving the leg behind. In 

 1905, on the North Cornish coast A. E. Gibbs found it 

 come to " susrar ' as a nvmph at first, as well as in 



o / JT 



the adult stage later. 



DISTRIBUTION.- -Europe, North Africa, Asia Minor, 

 and Amur- -common in Europe, from Sweden to Sicily ; 

 abundant in France and Beloium ; common in the 



o 



south of England, locally, chiefly near the southern 

 coast; Holland; etc. 



BRITISH LOCALITIES. 



If we were to judge by records only, we should conclude 

 that P. viridissima is practically unknown as a British insect 

 outside England. In G. Don's ' Account of the Plants and 

 Animals of the County of Forfar/ 1813_, mridissimus is men- 

 tioned certainly, but it' it was present in Scotland then it lias 

 since disappeared or perhaps, needs to be rediscovered. For 

 Ireland I have not seen a suggestion of its presence ! B. J. 

 Pocock took it in Glamorganshire, thus providing a solitary 

 record for Wales. 



ENGLAND. Berks : Tubney (Hamm), Cliilswell Hill neat- 

 Oxford (Lucas; possibly Wood's "outside Oxford " refers to 

 the same locality) ; Streatley (Tomliri). Cornwall: Abundant 

 near Mawgan Forth and not common at Wider in outh Bay 

 near Bnde (Bracken) ; Tresco in the Scilly Isles (Norgate) ; 

 Pen dower Castle on the east coast (Hodge) very common 

 near Padstow (Lamb) Land's End (Shaiv). Cumberland : 



* ' Ent. Mo. Mag.' 1889, p. 215. 



