192 - THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



On p. 22 the supra-anal plate ((jf the locust) is said to l)e the tergum of the 

 tenth abdominal segment. It is really the eleventh, as is correctly indicated 

 in the figure on the same page. 



The family name used for the grouse locusts is Tetrigidcr, since the author 

 objects to the confusion which is likely to arise from the use of both names 

 Acrydiidae and Acridida? (the latter being the family to which the ordinary 

 locusts belong). If, as stated on p. 187, the name AcrididcC were derived from 

 the Latin Acridium, its proper spelling would be Acridiidic, and it would in- 

 deed be objectionable to use both this term and Acryd^iida?, since Acridium is 

 merely an amended spelling of Acrydium. But the name Acridida is not de- 

 rived from Acridium but from Acrida (an Old World genus) ancMi Acrydium is 

 employed for the typical genus of grouse locusts, instead of Telrix, the family 

 name Acrydiida? and the subfamily name Acrydiiutf must likewise be used, to 

 conform with the established rules of nomenclature. 



In the section on p. 745, entitled "Area and Life Zones Covered." the 

 Hudsonian Life Zone as defined as equivalent to the entire Boreal Region of 

 Merriam, and the Boreal Fauna is stated to be the fauna of this zone. Accord- 

 ing to Merriam the Hudsonian is the middle zone of the three into which the 

 Boreal Region is divided, the others being the Arctic and Canadian ; and although, 

 as far as Orthoptera are concerned, there would be little need of these divisions, 

 they are, on the whole, quite as distinct as the zones of the Austral Region. 



Mr. Blatchley's definitions of the areas included in the other zones also 

 differ from those generally accepted, but as the limits of the zones are not easily 

 definable, such matters depend to a large extent upon personal preference and 

 judgment. It is unfortunate, however, to select as typical of the Alleghanian 

 fauna Choriliippus curlipennis, and Mclanoplus fasciatus, since these species are 

 distributed throughout the Canadian Zone well into the Hudsonian, if not to the 

 Arctic. Two of the three representatives of the Carolinian Fauna, Chlocallis 

 conspersa and Melanaplus femiir-nibrum , are also in no respect characteristic of 

 this fauna, both ranging through the Transition well into the Canadian Zone. 



On the whole Mr. Blatchley has shown very good judgment, in our opinion, 

 in his decisions as to the status of various forms described as species. Tettix 

 crassiis Morse is, e. g., very properly assigned to the synonymy of Acrydiuw 

 ODiatiim Say, and A. hancocki (Morse) is placed as a variety of this species; 

 while (9ecaw///«5 (//m(/n7?i/wctoi«5 Beutenm. is correctly placed as a variety of O. 

 nigricornis F. Walk. He has not, however, accepted the present writer's decision 

 in reducing Podisma variegaia Scudd. to a race of P. glacialis Scudd., although 

 this has been amply proven. In fact variegata grades by infinitesimal steps 

 into canadensis, and if there is a line to be drawn anywhere it is between canaden- 

 sis and glacialis. 



It must not be thought that the points criticised affect seriously the use- 

 fulness of Mr. Blatchley's book, which we feel sure will prove a most valuable 

 work of reference for all students of this interesting order for man\- years to come. 



E. M. W. 



In accordance with the regulations of the Post Ofiice Department respect- 

 nig the postage rates on monthly magazines, it has been necessary to issue the 

 August and September number separately. 



Mailed August 23rd, 1919 



