INSECT VARIETY. 171 



The common little Red-legged Grasshopper {Stenoiothrus 

 ruffes) is generally of a fuscous or yellowish colour, with red 

 tibiae, but some examples, accredited a variation of its female, 

 which I have freqviently taken in Lombardy, have their wing- 

 covers above slashed with deep green, and this circumstance, taken 

 in conjunction with a similarity of thoracic configuration, an 

 important feature in grasshopper charms, has induced the author 

 of the " Orthoptera Europea'''' to consider this but a variety of 

 the sort just noticed. But when we turn to the subjects of 

 distribution and biology, a discrepancy of kinds becomes more 

 pronounced. While the former damp-lurking grasshopper finds 

 a southern limit of dispersion among the Alpine rivulets, the 

 latter vagrant of the arid pebbles boldly descends into the 

 plains, and penetrates to Sicily, regions in which it often 

 assumes a swarthy hue, with legs wholly red and coralline. It 

 appears in the perfect state, too, earlier in the year, being noticed 

 from May to Sej^tember, and its pedestrianism and music form 

 quite a distinctive character. On dry sandy banks in the 

 month of July I have frequently reclined on the herbage and 

 watched the male quietly sitting on a grass-stem or squatting 

 on the ground, with his right hind leg lowered to listen, and 

 then, as if prepossessed with idea, or feeling a sense of loneliness, 

 suddenly raising and moving both femora from six to 

 eleven times forwards over the wing-covers, with pauses of 

 about seven seconds, fling forth long trilled defiances, " Rete- 

 tetee ! " If not answered he will run, or take a flying leap, 

 and challenge again. These grasshoppers are incessantly in 

 motion, with their red-tipped abdomen kindling like a glowing 

 coal in the misty sunshine ; and when one male meets with 

 another he dashes at him and bites him, and the two then 

 adjourn to the nearest available grass-stalks, or fallen twigs, and 

 respond sharply for a few seconds, the provocation and reply 

 blending in a guttural " Eitta ! ritta ! " But a female, even 

 if in a different dress, is greeted with a distinct recognition, 

 " Thirph ! thirph ! " There must be nevertheless a slight latitude 

 allowed as regards the notation of these slender notes, which to 

 our gross ears will ever vary with the attention bestowed upon 

 them. My first studies wei-e made on the sand-dunes covered 

 with scant grass that form the French sea-board, and which in 



