THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 149 



in its economic importance. The destruction wrought by it in 

 Canada has been second to none in recent times, and its numbers 

 have only been surpassed by its close ally spretiis, which caused 

 such severe losses in Manitoba during 1873 to 1875 as well as on 

 several dates previous to these dates. Spretiis, however, does not 

 seem to be a native of Canada, hence atlanis holds first rank in 

 destructiveness as an inhabitant of our country. It may seem 

 strange that a species so widely distributed and so well known as 

 atlanis should have had so little attention devoted to its egg-laying 

 habits. We are, of course, aware that it seeks dry, firm soil for 

 o\ipositing in and that it prefers stubble lands or old, deserted 

 fields for that purpose, but while I can claim to have handled 

 hundreds of egg-pods, I have only one record of seeing this species 

 actually ovipositing. 



The individual referred to was on the border of a stubble 

 field and had partly completed her task before being observed.' 

 This, insect on withdrawing her ovipositor, carefully shoved the 

 loose soil into the vacated cavity by aid of the abdomen, using 

 the valves of the ovipositor as a rake. The earth in this case 

 was first pushed in from close around and afterwards the insect 

 reached out to the full extent of her abdomen and drew the soil 

 towards her. Thus, in a short time no sign of the hole remained, 

 after which the locust hopped quickly away. This egg-pod con- 

 tained 16 eggs, which is about an average for the species. 



Melanoplns angiistipennis Dodge. The Manitoba examples of 

 this species are chiefly of the red-legged form, called by Scudder 

 coccineipes. It is a common insect which is most frequently met 

 with on edges of low bushes. 



On September 19th a female was observed searching for a 

 suitable situation for egg-laying. She had already forced her 

 abdomen into the soil and remained in that place for 10 minutes. 

 She then moved away and tested 14 other spots within an hour 

 and 10 minutes. During this search she travelled over consider- 

 able ground, usually walking, occasionally hopping and twice 

 flying. The process of inserting the abdomen occupied approxi- 

 mately seven minutes. The method employed, which is practically 

 the same in all species, consists of drawing the abdominal ex- 

 tremity well under the insect and then raising the hind legs and 



