390 PROCEEDINGS: BOSTON SOCIETY NATURAL HISTORY. 
The Common Cricket of our fields and roadsides is almost too 
well known to need description. It is a robust, active, black 
insect two-thirds to three-quarters of an inch long, abundant in 
limited areas throughout most of the country in open lands, par- 
ticularly those that are moist but well drained. Both by sight 
and sound it is known to nearly everyone. 
The Field-cricket varies so much in size, proportions, wing- 
length, and color that it is not at all surprising that numerous 
so-called species should have been described, based on these vari- 
ations. At one time systematic value 
was placed on wing-length, at another 
on proportionate length of ovipositor, 
breadth of head, pronotum, etc. Recent 
critical studies, however, indicate that, 
aside from the introduced European 
House-cricket, only one valid species of 
the genus is found in America from 
Canada to Patagonia. While several 
well-marked races are recognizable, the 
distribution of which may or may not be 
connected with geographic factors, the 
several variants show complete grada- 
tion from one to another. The majority 
of New England examples fall more or 
less readily into two series according to 
length of ovipositor: the first of these, 
with the ovipositor considerably exceed- 
ing in length the hind femora, and often 
with brown tegmina, has commonly been 
called ahhreviatus; the other, with proportionally shorter ovipos- 
itor, often smaller in size and more generally black in color, has 
been called pennsylvanicus and neglectus. Both forms are occa- 
sionally long-winged. Females with ovipositor of intermediate 
length are frequently found, however, and many males cannot 
possibly be referred definitely to either series. In general, Field- 
crickets inhabiting cold, dark, and wet places and from the North 
are smaller and blacker; and those from open sunny areas on loose 
sandy soil are larger, with pale tegmina and longer ovipositor. 
Adult Field-crickets begin to appear about the first of June in 
Fig. 64. — Common Field- 
cricket, Gryllus assimilis. Fe- 
male. (After Lugger.) 
