THE TETTIGIDyE OF NORTH AMERICA 

 JOSEPH LANE HANCOCK 



INTRODUCTION 



The present monograph treats of a group of small orthop- 

 tera, some of the members of which are the smallest represen- 

 tatives of the Acrididse. The group of Tettigida;,* as found 

 within the confines of the territory here covered, has received 

 until recently but little special attention. Tettigids or grouse- 

 locusts, the name by which these insects are commonly known, 

 are widely distributed over the world, there being fewer species 

 here than occur in some foreign tropical countries. Still 

 North America is much richer than Europe in the actual 

 number of species. The present contribution brings together, 

 as far as possible, what is known of the species inhabiting 

 North America, Central America, Mexico, and the West 

 Indies, the aim of its preparation being to stimulate further 

 study of this inconspicuous, though most interesting, orthop- 

 teran group. While approximately ninety-nine species are 

 here mentioned, further investigation might have rendered the 

 treatment more complete and satisfactory by the addition of 

 new material. Whatever the field may be it is fully appreciated 

 that before our ink is dry new discoveries may change some 

 of our present conceptions. 



During the nine years of study, in which a riper knowl- 

 edge has been sought, it has been necessary to revise the 

 manuscript many times, owing to accumulated observations 

 and descriptions of species and data published by other observ- 

 ers. Types of a great many of the described forms have 

 been critically examined. The author has been able to add 

 materially to the knowledge of the habits of some of these 

 little orthoptera. The drawings of the various plates and text 



* The Tettigidtc should not be confused with Tettigiidiv, a name sometimes applied to 

 the CicadidiV, 



