1897.] THE SPECIES OP^ THE GEXUS MELANOPLUS. 21 



cerci rarely less than four times as long as middle breadth 

 (when less, at least three times as long, and then the 

 apical margin ol the subgenital plate is entire), generally- 

 slender, excepting sometimes at extreme apex when there 

 is great disparity in width between the apical and basal 

 halves, the basal half generally tapering considerably, the 

 apical half often much narrower than the basal, rarely 

 showing any excision of the lower margin, the apex nar- 

 rowly rounded or bluntly pointed. 

 /\ Subgenital plate of male as broad or nearly as broad 

 at apex as at base, generally elevated apically and often 

 notched (generally narrowly) ; cerci usually narrowing 

 but little on basal half, the apical half equal and sym- 

 metrical, bluntly rounded (rarely truncate or angulate) 

 apically. 

 ^^ Apical margin of subgenital plate of male 

 notched with greater or less distinctness ; cerci 

 slender, narrower than the frontal costa, subequal, 

 straight or only gently incurved (Devastator series). 

 h}. Small species, with tegmina not surpassing 

 the hind femora in either sex; interspace be- 

 tween mesosternal lobes of male distinctly less 

 than twice as broad as long. 



/\ Cerci of male narrowed rather than broadened 

 apically. 

 y\ External surface of male cerci apically 

 dimpled ; furcula with the tapering portion 

 relatively broad, distinctly flattened, almost 

 reaching the middle of the supraanal plate. 

 k}-. Prozona of male longitudinal ; fingers of 

 furcula parallel ; cerci bent inwards api- 

 cally diminuius. 



k\ Prozona of male quadrate ; fingers of 

 furcula divergent ; cerci gently incurved 



throughout consanguineus. 



j'\ External surface of male cerci sulcate 

 through apical third or more ; furcula with the 

 tapering portion very slender, not flattened, 

 not nearly reaching the middle of the supra- 

 anal plate sierranus. 



