THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 275 



against the edges of the folded tegmina. Others are capable of 

 stridulating only during flight, and produce a noisy clatter which 

 is anything but musical. Members of the Acridiidse are strictly 

 creatures of the sunlight and with darkness all become inactive 

 and silent. I have never yet heard the note of any Acridian after 

 darkness has set in. These interesting grasshoppers are also 

 almost strictly terrestrial, and generally prefer open fields and 

 pastures where they can find an abundance of bright sunshine 

 and unlimited room for their noisy aerial performances. 



Whatever the true significance may be, the predominance 

 of green, brown and black in the coloration of the Acridiidae seems 

 to indicate that these colours may have a more or less protective 

 value. The brighter colours, which may be very beautifully 

 patterned, are usually confined to the thin, parchment-like under 

 wings, and are thoroughly concealed by the tegmina when the 

 insect is at rest. 



Among the Acridiidae there are many species which possess 

 no powers of stridulation.* Notwithstanding this, these insects 

 in many other ways are very interesting. Smallest of all the 

 Acridiidse and among the most interesting are the odd-shaped 

 grouse-locusts. These tiny creatures, which leap almost as actively 

 as fleas, are exceedingly difficult to discern in their natural environ- 

 ment of earth and dead vegetation. As one sweeps a net over 

 the surface of the dry leaves in the woods there is an audible 

 rustling as the tiny creatures hop about very much like tiny toads. 

 At rest, their odd little bodies and sombre hues of greys, yellows 

 and browns assimilate them perfectly with the mottled carpet 

 of dried leaves, grasses, pebbles, bits of dead bark and woods 

 among which they dwell. 



Most of the Acridiidae mentioned in this paper were observed 

 in the vicinity of a small settlement in Jackson County known as 

 Thompson's Mills, and situated about five miles west of Hoschton, 

 near the intersection of the counties of Hall, Gwinnett and Jackson. 



Tettix arenas us Burm. This grouse-locust is probably a com- 

 mon species at Thompson's Mills. It is found among dry leaves 

 in upland woods. 



Tettix hancocki var. abbreviates Hancock. This sombre-hued 



