150 INSECTS OF MASSACHUSETTS. 



but it leaps well. Great numbers of these insects are found in 

 our low meadows, in the perfect state, from the first of August 

 till the middle of October. They are easily distinguished from 

 other locusts by their short and narrow wings, by the yellow color 

 of the body beneath, and by the yellow legs and black knees. 



in. tetrix. Grouse-locust. 



The Greeks applied the name of Tetrix to some kind of grouse, 

 probably the heath-cock of Europe, and Latreille adopted it for 

 a genus of locusts in which, perhaps, he fancied some resem- 

 blance to the bird in question. Linnaeus placed these locusts in 

 a division of his genus Gryllus which he called Bulla, a name 

 that ought to have been retained for them. The principal dis- 

 tinguishing characters of the genus have already been given, and 

 I will only add that the body is broadest between the middle legs, 

 narrows gradually to a point behind, and very abruptly to the head, 

 which is much smaller than in the other locusts. The wings are 

 large, forming nearly the quadrant of a circle, thin and delicate, 

 and scalloped on the edge ; when not in use they are folded be- 

 neath the projecting thorax. The four boring appendages of the 

 females are notched on their edges with fine teeth, like a saw. 

 Latreille and Serville have stated that the antennae consist of only 

 thirteen or fourteen joints ; but some of our native species have 

 twenty-two joints in the antennae. Upon this variation I would 

 arrange those now to be described in two groups. 



I. Jlntennoe. 14-jointed ; eyes very prominent, icith a projecting 

 ridge between them, formed by a horizontal extension of the flat top 

 of the head ; thorax prolonged beyond the extremity of the body. 



1. Tetrix ornata. Ornamented grouse-locust. 



Dark ash-colored ; a large white patch between four black 

 spots on the top of the thorax ; a white spot on the top of the 

 hind thighs ; thorax nearly or quite as long as the wings. Length 

 hh t0 tV mcn to tne apex of the thorax. 



This species varies in wanting the white spot on the top of the 

 thorax sometimes. It was first described by Mr. Say, under the 

 name of Jlcrydium ornatum.* 



* American Entomology. Vol. I. Plate 5. 



