OF WASHINGTON, VOLUME XIII, 1911. 145 



grass-dwelling insect whose grass-like form and coloration 

 might be considered an excellent example of protective 

 adaptation. 



The species of Atlanticus which I have observed are terres- 

 trial in their habits and sing mostly by night. Their brown 

 and black admixtures of color serve to harmonize them with 

 their usual environment of sticks, leaves, etc., on the ground 

 in woods. These insects are said to accommodate themselves 

 readily to confinement. 



Among the musical Gryllidae we find a wide range of habits, 

 which serve to adapt these insects to widely different environ- 

 mental conditions. The mole crickets ( Gryllotalpd) are un- 

 derground dwellers in wet soils. On the surface of the ground 

 among the sticks, leaves, and grasses we find the large crickets 

 {Gryllus} and the species of Nemobius, which are small, 

 dark-colored terrestrial crickets. In the grass and herbage 

 just above the ground the species of Anaxipha and Phyl- 

 loscirtus dwell. The shrubs, trees, and vines are occupied by 

 species of CEcanthus, Cyrtoxipha, Orocharis, and others. 



Of all the stridulating Orthoptera, the Gryllidae have at- 

 tained the highest degree of musical ability. The stridula- 

 tions of these insects, unlike the stridulations of the Acridiidae 

 and IvOcustidse, are characterized by true musical tones. 



The species of Gryllus and Nemobius are readily studied 

 during captivity, and scarcely cease their persistent chirps 

 and trillings while alive. The more arboreal tree crickets of 

 the genera CEcauthiis, Crytoxipha, and Orocharis in many 

 instances are rather difficult to observe in the field, owing to 

 their position among the leaves of tall trees and climbing 

 vines. These insects, however, may be confined in a room 

 with an abundance of foliage, which naturally conceals them, 

 although under these conditions these arboreal crickets are 

 not as contented and musical as the more hardy ground dwell- 

 ers. The species of (J^canthus are most musical at night, and, 

 at this time, may readily be observed in their natural haunts 

 by the light of a lantern. 



It is a well-known fact among entomologists that strong 

 lights serve as a great attraction to nearly all kinds of noc- 

 turnal insects. In a study of those musical Orthoptera which 

 stridulate at night, a light which can readily be carried is an 

 indispensable part of one's outfit. This light should be 

 strong and readily directed upon any particular spot. For 

 this purpose a bull's eye lantern with a good reflector gives a 

 most admirable light. It is an interesting fact that all the 

 musical Orthoptera which stridulate at night have little fear 



