126 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST. 



8. Mecostethus gracilis, Scudd. 



Arcyptera gracilis, Scudd.; Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist., 1862, VII., 463. 



Stetheophy7na gracilis, Thos.j Syn. Acrid., 1873, 99- 



This species is found in precisely the same habitats as the preceding 



in Ontario, but in the West, at Winnipeg, Man., I have also taken it in 



prairies which were quite dry. It is not a very common species here, 



though by no means rare. 



All my specimens were taken in August, though it is probably found 

 throughout the season in which M. lineatus occurs. 1 have seen it at 

 DeGrassi Pt. and at Aurora. 



9. Stenobothrus curtipennis, Harris. 



Locust a ( Chloealtis) curtipejmis, Harr.; Ins. Inj., 1862, 184. 

 Stefiobothrus leiigipennis, Scudd.; Bost. Jour. Nat. Hist., 1862, 



Vol. VII., 457. 

 Stenobothrus curtipennis, Harr.; Thos., Syn. Acrid., 1873, 91. 

 A very common grasshopper in low, wet meadows, clearings in 

 swampy woods, etc. Probably found throughout the whole of or at 

 least by far the greater part of Ontario. Both the long- and short-winged 

 forms are common. 



It comes to maturity about the first of July, or in some seasons a 

 little later, and is found until about the beginning of October. 



NOTES ON THE NOCTUID GENUS HYDRCECIA. 



BY HENRY BIRD, RYE, N. Y. 



Descriptions of several Hydroecia larv?e have appeared in this 

 magazine at various times, but as they were instances when the insects 

 were infesting cultivated plants, the following notes are submitted to show 

 their life history when found in more natural environments, and to assist 

 the student in obtaining sufficient material in some of the species for 

 comparative work. From the paucity of examples in collections and 

 from the close relationship existing between most of the species, it is 

 necessary to resort to breeding, or at least to have such a knowledge of 

 their early habits as to secure extended series, before a very correct 

 idea may be had of the representatives of this genus. 



Since Mr. Grote worked over the group [^Hydroecia, Guen. ; Gortyna, 

 Ochs.], describing as new many of the species, very little practical work 

 has been done. He described from scanty material, and although his 

 writings seem sufficiently lucid, the construction given some of his 



