266 Tttfc ENTOMoLOGtST's RECOkt). 



and we were not provided with pill-boxes. The Micros did not appear 

 very numerous, but I am too ignorant of them to attempt any note in 

 regard to them. Sphinx convolvuli was very common at llowers of 

 NicoticDia a fortnight later, but, contrary to my anticipations, did not 

 affect the light. Deilcphila euphorbiae larvae, in all stages, were to 

 be found at the same tune as we were taking the imagines at light. 

 Perhaps the absence of many species is almost as remarkable as the 

 presence of others. I was especially surprised at taking no Calli- 

 morplia duminula or Arctia villica ; &pilosoma menthastri or H. 

 lubricipeda, I believe, was seen, but I have no note of their ap- 

 pearance ; S. mendica did not visit us. 



Aquatic Orthoptera. 



By MALCOLM BURR, F.Z.S., F.E.S. 



For many years entomologists have been under the impression that 

 Orthoptera were never, under any circumstances, aquatic in habits, 

 but this is now known to be not strictly true. I have a distinct recol- 

 lection of seeing in print the statement that Prisopus flabdliformis, 

 Stoll, a large Brazilian Phasmid, spends the day under water 

 attached to stones, and flies at dusk, but, unfortunately, I cannot find 

 the reference. It is, however, among the Acridiodea that we have 

 the best authenticated cases of Orthoptera taking to water. A large 

 Acridian, Kuprepocnemis plorans, Charp., a pretty species fairly 

 common in Spain and Algeria, has been noticed by Senor Gogorza to 

 move about under water, and to swim exactly as though in its natural 

 element. There is nothing in the appearance of this species which 

 would suggest aquatic habits. The common English Tetti.v blpunc- 

 tatiis, L., is frequently found swimming on the surface of a small pool, 

 but very probably it only indulges in involuntary baths. In England 

 and abroad I have taken this species and T. subidatics, L., on the mud 

 round the sides of pools, and when frightened, they spring to a con- 

 siderable distance, and so often fall into the water. They immediately 

 start kicking vigorously and simultaneously with both hind-legs, lying 

 half on the side. Thus they swim to the shore. Dr. Hancock has shown 

 that the Tettigidae live on a mud diet by pond sides (FJ^it. Eec, x., 

 p. 6). No European species has the posterior legs in any way modi- 

 lied for swimming ; but the genus Scelimena, Serv., much like Tettix 

 in appearance but considerably larger, has a membranous border on 

 the posterior tibije, and on the first segment of the posterior tarsi. 

 This membrane considerably increases the surface opposed to the 

 water, and turns the legs into oars or paddles. Aquatic habits have 

 been observed in this genus by Capt. Boys, Westwood, Humbert and 

 de Haussure. I know of no Locustodea being, under any condition 

 aquatic, but there is at least one remarkable instance in the Gryllodea. 

 At the Zoological Congress at Cambridge, this year, M. le Prof. Gilson, 

 of Louvain, exhibited a curious cricket, which has the spines of the 

 posterior tibite and tarsi very considerably elongated. Prof. Gilson 

 had taken the species himself in Fiji, where he discovered it, leaping 

 about on the surface of a pool, below a waterfall. It is worth notice 

 that the water was by no means calm, but rather rough, below the 

 fall, and the long spines seem to act as the long claws of Parra 



