143 



palpi nearly equal, the ultimate a little the longest. Prosternum neither 

 spined nor tuberculate. Abdomen somewhat compressed, carinated above. 



B niagniiix, Girard, Marcy's Expl. Red Riv. La., 260, PI. xv.. Figs. 1-4. 



Occiput very slightly irregular, an indistinct line running along the 

 middle to the vertex, a few minute shallow punctures visible ; the elevated 

 margins of the vertex meet in about a right angle at the front ; the frontal 

 costa, although narrowest above and gradually expanding as it descends, is 

 not narrowed opposite the antennre; margins distinct, obtuse; sulcus shallow, 

 expanding and fading below, punctui-ed. Disk of the pronotum strongly 

 shagreened. Elytra squamasform, ovate, reaching the tliird al^dominal 

 segment; nerves longitudinal, slightly branching near the apex; wings 

 minute. Posterior femora very thick. 



Color (dried after immersion in alcohol, yet varying but slightly from 

 the living insect). — Yellow, spotted with brovvi]. Carinas of the pronotum 

 glabrous, sometimes piceous, at others paler, even to yellowish-white ; tlie 

 disk sometimes pale-brownish, with a paler broad stripe each side ; at others, 

 yellowish, and often with an aeneous luster; sides purplish at the upper margin, 

 yellowish below. Elytra light-brown, spotted with black ; wings yellow. 

 Abdomen with a brown spot each side of each segment; each segment is 

 also margined with a ring of whitish dots. Antennje dull purplish-brown. 

 Posterior femora somewhat variable from yellowish to pale-brown, some 

 specimens exhibiting tolerably distinct stripes. 



Dimensions. — 9 Length, 2 inches; pronotimi, 0.55 inch; elytra, 03 

 inch; posterior femora, 1.25 inches. Males about one-fourth less. 



Eastern Wyoming, Eastern Colorado, Nebraska, Texas (Thomas) ; Kan- 

 sas (Dodge) ; near Wachita Mountains (Grirard). * 



Group 5.-ACRIDINI. 



Mucronati, Serv., Scudd. ; Acrididce, Walk. 



This group is distinguished by the vertical face, filiform antenna;, and 

 the spine, which protrudes from the middle of the prosternum. It contains 

 some of the largest species belonging to the family, as Well as some of the 

 most destructive. It is in this group that we find the gigantic species of 



* There are two varieties of this 'species — I do not think they are distinct — one 

 a dall-green, the other an orange-brown when living. 



