210 THE entomologist's record. 



Observations on some new and litt!e=known Orthoptera 

 with biological ^otes^ 



By J. PORTOCHINSKY (translated by Jacob Kotinsky). 



The subject of the present article comprises two species of orthop- 

 terovis insects in the family Arridiodea to Avhich I have paid special 

 attention during my travels in Transcaucasia. One of these species 

 belongs to the genus Ereinobia, and, it seems to me, is a new one, 

 while the other belongs to Xocamden, and is one of the very little 

 known orthoptera. Both species are, as we shall see later, of 

 considerable interest. 



In the fields surrounding Erivan and Echmiadzin during the 

 month of May we come across an Krewobia peculiar for its large size 

 and the shape of its pronotum. I^efore, however, I proceed with the 

 detailed description of this apparently new species, which I shall name 

 Eret)i(Aiia ijrandix, I deem it necessary to give a short description of 

 the country in which this insect breeds. The plains of P^rivan present 

 a quite level surface nearly surrounded by mountains. These clay 

 fields, covered almost over their entire extent with a thick layer of 

 volcanic sand and other volcanic products, have quite a peculiar 

 appearance. In places, the surface appears of a dark bluish -grey 

 colour, in others grey, passing here and there into pink and reddish. 

 Each of these colours depends upon the hue of the sand and gravel, 

 and predominates either upon small spaces or upon entire plains ; so 

 much so, that it is hard to find a patch where pure clay with its 

 natural colour is exposed to view. Thus the prevailing tints of the 

 fields are slaty-grey, grey, and bluish, more rarely clay-yellow. This 

 level is covered with an uniform, stunted growth. Clumps of bloom- 

 ing Peijanu)!! are found in places, also blooming Salvia, Kiifdmrbia, 

 creeping Astraiialns, and the low-growing Arti'iiiisia, these are the 

 principal representatives of the local flora, Avhich becomes more 

 vigorous and more varied only on the banks of streams : but even these 

 few prevailing vegetable forms rarely occur altogether. There, whole 

 squares are covered with riujannm, only so, however, that the distance 

 between two bushes of it is several yards of bare ground ; here, you 

 strike a strip entirely covered by Salvia and KnjJiorbia, and, finally, 

 a large area covered almost exclusively by Artrniisia. 



The numerous animals found in these fields conform with the soil 

 of the Erivan steppes in colour, presenting in their general appearance 

 a striking resemblance to it. This is true principally with all those 

 that either always remain on the surface, or are wont to sit there 

 occasionally. I have often walked considerable distances without 

 seeing a single animal, but, no sooner did I slacken my pace, and, as 

 far as possible, zigzagged my course, when, now here, now there, some 

 insect or other would either jump or fly out of the way. To those of the 

 latter group belong the large Kremobia (jrandiK and others. The con- 

 formity of colour between the locusts and the soil has been noticed 

 more than once, nevertheless the phenomenon herein described by me 

 deserves special attention, since, in the description of this new species, 

 all possibilities of imagining even an approximate general colour of 

 the insect, are excluded. Its colour varies to extremes, and I did not 



* From Horce Societatis Entomologicce Eossircp, vol. xx., pp. 111-127, pi. xii., 

 1886. 



