March, 1920.] Davis : Truf. Katydid Xearly Extinct. 79 



over about fifty miles of the most rural parts, Mr. Edward J. Burns 

 and I were unable to hear any true katydids on the warm nights of 

 September, 1919, though the tree-frequenting Microccntrum rhombi- 

 folinm was present, as were also the several native species of Scud- 

 dcria, Amhlycorypha and Ncoconoccphalus. 



It has been shown by Dr. Joseph L. Hancock in Entomological 

 News for February, 1916, that the eggs of Amhlycorypha oblongifoUa 

 may not hatch until the second or third year after they have been 

 laid. If those of Ptcrophylla can remain dormant for a like period, 

 it is possible that some small colonies may still exist on Staten Island, 

 but we think their presence unlikely. While we have not the same 

 conclusive evidence for other areas of forested country lying in New 

 York City as we have for those on Staten Island, from our observa- 

 tions it would appear that the true katydid is either extinct or is 

 rapidly becoming less common in most localities within the limits 

 mentioned. From I\Ir. S. Harmsted Chubb of the American Museum 

 of Natural History we learn that about four katydids were heard 

 singing on the evening of October 6, 1919, in some tall trees a short 

 distance west of Broadway at about 255th Street. This locality is 

 near the northern limit of Van Cortlandt Park. In the collection of 

 the American Museum of Natural History there are six specimens 

 collected many years ago at West Farms, New York City, by John 

 Angus. Owing to the fact that the true katydid is still so common 

 on parts of Long Island, it may possibly be found in the eastern part 

 of one of the boroughs of the greater city situated on that island. 



It is to be regretted that but six specimens of camelUfolia are 

 preserved from Staten Island, where at one time the species was so 

 abundant. Most of these were found on the trunks of trees after 

 storms, for when the wind blows hard the katydid often descends 

 to the main trunk. They are easily collected where the forest growth 

 is low, as at Lakehurst, N. J., for instance, by following up the song 

 of the male and locating the insect with the aid of an acetylene lan- 

 tern. Then if the katydid is gently touched with a long stick, it will 

 let go its hold and fall to the shrubbery below. Mr. George P. En- 

 gelhardt and I have thus collected many. The insect, however, will 

 not let go its hold if the trees are simply shaken : it has to be touched. 



While the true katydid does not often frequent the tops of pitch 

 pines, it docs lay its eggs in the bark of that tree, and we have photc- 



