1915.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 299 



Treatment of the Specific Variants.— \\\ order to place properly the 

 material of this species examined, we have found it quite impossible 

 to group the specimens under any number of varietal units, and in con- 

 sequence we have devised a system of symbols as given below, by 

 which the coloration, color pattern, tegminal and wing development 

 and size of each specimen recorded at the end of this treatment is 

 defined. We have found that in general certain types do predominate 

 over certain regions. These constitute the bases of many of the 

 supposed species, but in our opinion should be characterized by 

 symbols rather than varietal names, owing to their complexity and 

 the evident fact that none of these are distinct either specifically or 

 as geographic races, and really show only the various phases resultant 

 from varied environmental conditions. In other widely distributed 

 and plastic species we have found similar environmental adaptations,^" 

 but nowhere in the Orthoptera of America is this carried to the 

 multiplicity and extreme diversity of such variants as in the present 

 species. Should varietal names be used without qualification for 

 such units, even for convenience, the frequent and varied combina- 

 tions of features, already proven worthless for either specific or 

 geographic racial cUstinction, would preclude the possibility of proper 

 use of even such names of minor importance for many specimens in 

 every large series studied. 



Symbols used to designate the material of this species here recorded. 



Coloration of head and pronotum. 



A. Black. 



B. Black, mouth parts and margins of lateral lobes of pronotum pale. 



C. Very dark brown, paler dorsal postocular bar and marking on 



infra-ocular portion of gense. 



D. Like C, -but with mouth parts also pale and between eyes a pale 



inverted T-shaped marking. 



E. Pale, with color pattern strongly defined. 



F. Pale, with color pattern weakly defined. 



Coloration of caudal femora. 

 U. Black. 



V. Black, with ventro-proximal portion briefly reddish. 

 W. Black, -with ventro-proximal portion widely reddish. 

 X. Very dark, with reddish suffusion. 

 Y. Buffy, suffused with darker distad. 

 Z. Buffy. 



1" Nemdbius fasciatus fasciatus, Nemobius fasciatus socius, Orchelimum concin- 

 num, Conocephalus saltator and others. 



