26 



Thyreonotus dorsalis. Burmeister. 



Length of body, nearly one inch ; of ovipositor, one inch. Color, 

 yellowish brown, more or less mottled, darker above. 



Thyreonotus pachymerus. Burmeister. 



" Among other distinctions between these two species, it may 

 be seen that this species has the pronotum well rounded behind, 

 while the hind margin of the other is nearly square ; and the ovi- 

 positor is longer in T. dorsalis than in T. pachymerus, as are also 

 the hind legs." — Scudder. 



Family ACRIDID^. 



Grasshoppers. 



Anterior and middle legs equal, or nearly equal, in length, much 

 shorter than the posterior pair ; posterior legs elongate, fitted 

 for leaping ; the femora enlarged near the base. The tarsi three- 

 jointed ; the first joint, which is usually the longest of the three, 

 and much longer than the second, has the under side marked by 

 two cross-impressions, which give it the appearance, when seen on 

 this side, of being composed of three pieces ; the tei'minal or 

 third joint is furnished with two strong claws. Wing covers and 

 wings, when in repose, rest partly horizontal on the back of the 

 abdomen, and partly deflexed against the sides. The antennre 

 are shorter than the body, seldom exceeding half its length, and 

 composed of from six to twenty-four joints ; they are either fili- 

 form, flattened, or ensiform, rai'ely clavate. Most of the species 

 possess wings, but in a few these organs are wanting. 



This family contains a much larger number of species than 

 either of the other families of the Orthoptera, and includes those 

 which have proved the most destructive to our' cultivated crops. 

 The entire life-history of but few of our species has been carefully 

 studied ; yet, in a general way, they are so nearly alike that the 

 history of one will answer for that of all. 



When the female is ready to deposit her eggs, she digs a hole in 

 the ground, with the valves of her ovipositor, as deep as the length 

 of her abdomen will permit, and at this time she is able to lengtlieu 

 the abdomen to nearly twice its ordinary length. She then deposits 

 her eggs in this hole, one at a time, placing them in regular order, 

 so as to form an elongated oval mass. During the process a glairy 

 fluid is deposited about the mass, which hardens and binds them 

 together somewhat in the form of a bean. The hole is then filled 



