340 • THE CANADIAN ENTOMULOGIST. 



II. XiPHIDIUM SALTANS, Scudd. 



Xiphidiui/i saltafis, Scudd., Rep. U. S. Geol. Siirv., Nebr., 187 i, 249. 



Xiphidium modestuui, Brun., Can. Ent., XXIII., 1891, 56. 



Measurements: Length of bod}', $ \\ mm.; $ 12 mm.; of pro- 

 notum, $ 2.8 mm., 9 3 mm.; of hind femora, ^ 'i \o ram.; of tegmina 

 (short-winged form), $ 4 mm.; $ 2.4 mm.; of ovipositor, 10.6 mm. 

 Long-winged form: Length of tegmina, ^ 14 mm.; 9 14.6 mm.; of 

 wings, ^ 16.2mm, 9 17 mm. 



I have found this western species in but one locaHty, High Park, 

 Toronto, where it occurs locally in considerable numbers in the open 

 grassy uplands, on sandy soil. These sandy uplands are of a very 

 interesting character, and support a number of unusual plants and insects. 

 Among the latter, Melanopliis Dawsoni, another western grasshopper, is 

 found in the same spots as X. saltans. Both of these species are charac. 

 teristic of the Western prairies, the general range of saltans^ as given in 

 Scudder"s "Catalogue of the Orthoptera of the United States and Canada," 

 being from the Rocky Mts. to the Mississippi River. It is found in the 

 western part of Indiana^ and has been reported from New Jersey (Smiiii, 

 Ins N. J., 1900, 162). 



X. saltans is most plentiful in tufts of rather long grass. New Jersey 

 Tea, Sweet-fern and Lupine are among the characteristic plants of the 

 locality. 



My specimens are all peculiar in their coloration, being of a pale, 

 almost bluish green, instead of dull reddish brown, the usual colour 

 according to the descriptions. The dark stripe on the top of the head and 

 pronotum is margined on either side by a very distinct and rather broad 

 yellowish line. 



A pair of this species was submitted to Prof. Morse, and another to 

 Prof. Blatchley, both of whom agree in confirming my determination. 



On the 9th of August, 1903, I captured a pair of long-winged 

 individuals. These are the first that have been taken. They were found 

 in company with short-winged examples, and are recognizable as saltans 

 at a glance from the small size, peculiar coloration and long ovipositor 

 in the female. 



My specimens are dated Aug. 9, to, 1902, and .-Vug. 9, Se[)t. 8, 20. 

 1903. 



