OETHOPTEEA ACEIDIDAE INTEODUCTOEY EEMAEKS. 855 



observer for our common Diaplieromera Sayl. Not only is the body elongate, 

 slender, and somewhat cylindrical, but is generally almost uniform in size 

 throughout its length, and usually wingless. The head is elongate-conical, 

 and either ascending obliquely (Proscopia), or extending forward horizontally 

 (Cephalocoema) ; antennae very short, often falling short of the tip of the 

 vertex, and composed of but few joints (six to nine). The legs are quite 

 slender ; the posterior pair being scarcely fitted for leaping. The prothorax 

 is very long, slender, and subcylindrical, having no pronotum in the sense 

 of a shield, as seen in the true Acridians ; the pronotum here being simply 

 the dorsal portion of the prothorax as in the PJiasnus; the anterior legs (in 

 Proscopicd) are attached to the sides near the middle. The mesothorax and 

 metathorax are very short ; their combined length seldom equaling one-half 

 the length of the prothorax. 



It is evident from these characters, and others which might be named, 

 that the distinctions between this group and the true Acridii are much 

 greater than those which separate the groups into which the latter have been 

 divided. I am therefore inclined to think this group should be considered 

 as a subfamily, and as equivalent to the Tettigi. We should, then, have 

 three subfamilies, as follows : 



PKOSCOPIN^E, ACEIDIN.E, and TETTIGIN^E. 



Therefore, while I think the arrangement given in my synopsis should 

 be thus modified, on the other hand, the reasons which lead me to this con- 

 clusion would also lead me to reject the plan suggested by Dr. Stal, if his 

 larger groups are to be considered as subfamilies. 



Raising- his ProscopidcB and Tettigidce to subfamilies, and considering 

 the rest of the family as a third subfamily, I am prepared to accept, in great 

 part, his other groups, if considered as inferior divisions. 



I most heartily agree with him in suppressing Walker's Trigonopiery- 

 gidce, and in raising Pneumora to a distinct group, as equivalent to Acridini 

 and (Edipodini. And, to show that I had arrived at this conclusion before 

 the receipt of the " Reccnsio", I quote the following from my notes prepared 

 during the winter of 1873-74 :- 



" This singular group (Pneumorte) presents some very singular features, 



