1904.] NATURAL SCIENCES OF PHILADELPHIA. 791 



and it is for this reason that, although it is a slow species at taking 

 alarm and poor at jumping, it is sometimes hard to capture. (M. H.) 



Melanoplus sylvestris Morse. 



This recently described species is apparently represented by three 

 female specimens taken at Thomasville and Metcalfe in September, 

 November and December, 1903. The original specimens were all from 

 western North Carolina. Wlien compared with specimens of M. 

 islandicus, females of sylvestris can be separated by the precurrent 

 median carina of the pronotum, the broader metazona, the more pro- 

 nounced sulcation of the frontal costa, and the more quadrate interval 

 between the mesosternal lobes. 



Found in the same places as the preceding species, but more agile 

 and easily alarmed. Its coloration affords it even greater protection 

 than that of M. scudderi. (M. H.) 



Melanoplus nigrescens (Scudder). 



A series of fifteen males and seventeen females represents this large 

 and rather striking species. All the specimens are from Thomasville, 

 and were taken in November and December. Considerable variation 

 is exhibited in the shape of the cerci of the males. 



Color of live specimens: Female; Thomasville, November 30, 1903; 

 general color mummy brown, the "pepper-and-salt" effect caused by 

 a minute speckling of pale wood brown, postocular streak clear 

 mummy brown, eyes mars brown, antennae with the base wood 

 brown and the apical portion vandyke brown; tegmina with the 

 anal field clear wood brown, discoidal and costal regions mummy 

 brown; stripe on the metapleura and the paler bars on the hind 

 femora ecru drab, dark bars on the femora seal brown; posterior 

 tibiae blackish basally, dull maroon apically. Male; Thomasville, 

 November 30, 1903; general color clove-brown becoming dull umber 

 on the anal field of the tegmina ; lateral lobes of the pronotum 

 and lower part of head deep blue-gray blending into the general tint 

 of the upper surface; eyes mottled clove brown and wood brown; 

 stripe on metapleura and pale bars and spots on posterior femora 

 almost pure white, suffused slightly with grayish toward the dorsal 

 sm'face; dark bars on the posterior femora and base color of meso- 

 and metapleura solid black; anterior and median limbs similar to 

 the lower part of the head in color; posterior tibiae apically poppy red, 

 dull on the superior surface, basal portion blackish with a dull reddish- 

 pregenicular annulus; surface of the meso- and metasternum dull 

 glaucous green, of the under surface of the abdomen gamboge yellow. 



