1912.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 263 



smaller species of the genus. The caudal margin of the disk of the 

 pronotum is very broadly V-shaped emarginate mesad, both in the 

 specimens here recorded and in the type series. The males show a 

 considerable amount of variation both in length and shape of the 

 cerci. The majority, however, agree with Scudder's description, 

 but one specimen has the cerci acutely styliform beyond the thickened 

 base and a number of individuals show a tendency to have the tip 

 subspatulate. The figures given by Sc udder 30 of the extremity of 

 the male abdomen of this species are extremely poor. 



Figs. 17 and 18. — Lateral and dorsal views of the apex of abdomen of male 

 Melanoplus puer from Miami, Fla. (X 6.) 



Scudder's color description is based on dried alcoholic specimens, 

 as the typical series are all in that condition, and we have conse- 

 quently deemed it advisable to give the following color notes. 



In the series before us the general color in the males varies from 

 russet to drab tinged with raw umber and in the females from burnt 

 umber to clove-brown tinged with vandyke brown. In the males the 

 customary spot on the lateral lobes of the pronotum is very pro- 

 nounced, piceous, triagonal in shape and covers about half the lateral 

 surface of the lobes; the females are not so noticeable in this respect 

 since they are, as a rule, darker in general coloration and have this 

 spot smaller and less intense. In all of the males the sides of the 

 first four abdominal segments are piceous, which color consequently 

 extends considerably beyond the tips of the tegmina; this marking- 

 is, in the females, suggested in only a few specimens. The hind 

 femora in both sexes are usually heavily twice banded, with the apex 

 also blackish, the darkest specimens alone having these bands faintly 

 indicated. The ventral face of the caudal femora is gamboge-yellow, 

 sometimes changing caudad to deep chrome in the males, and saturn 

 red usually shading to flame scarlet on the outer edge in the females. 

 In both sexes the caudal tibiae are without exception deep heliotrope- 

 purple. 



The species is local in distribution and is usually found in small 

 colonies in the undergrowth of the pine woods; it was scarce at 



30 



Proc. U. S. N. M., Vol. XX, pi. XVII, fig. 2, 1897. 



