77 



Dissosteira Carolina (Linn). Townsend describes what he regards as an act of court- 

 ship in this species, as follows : " On the 14th of August last, in the afternoon. I saw one 

 of this species fly up from the dry parched grass, and remain nearly stationary about two 

 feet in the air for some time, by means of a rapid beating of the wings. Presently it flew 

 back to the ground. In a few minutes another one, which had witnessed the performanco 

 at a short distance, flew quickly over and alighted by the side of the performer. They raw 

 by each other several times, occasionally touching each other, but did not make any further 

 manifestations, and finally the last one flew away, leaving the other motionless in the 

 withered grass. Though it is probable that the females are attracted by these perform- 

 ances of the males, and that the males vie with each other in their exhibitions, still I think 

 that the two just spoken of ';/ere both males, and were disposed to fight from a feeling of 

 rivalry, the one that flew off having been beaten." 



" On the 24th of the month I noticed the same thing over again. An individual per- 

 formed three times in succession, and then another alighted on the ground by its side ; they 

 ran by each other several times, apparently clasping, probably in conflict, for I am quite 

 sure they were both males. At last one of them flew away, and the other soon after 

 renewed the performing. I regret to say that I did not capture specimens to ascertain 

 the sex ; but, judging from size, I do not think I have seen any but the males taking 

 active part in the aerial exhibitions. In going through with the performance they rise 

 at first generally about three or four feet, making a light purring or beating sound, and 

 then, rising higher, change the motion of the wings, when a curious, sharp, see-sawing 

 sound is produced. Some rise even higher than six feet in the last act ; others rise only 

 one or two feet. Of course some excel others in the beauty and ease with which they 

 accomplish the feat; many do not remain in just the same place while hovering, but 

 vary, falling or jerking about while endeavoring to keep the same point in the air. I 

 am of the opinion that the females are sensitive to the grace with which this is performed." 



I have repeatedly witnessed this ascent from a single spot, and hovering thereover 

 so well described above, during which an interrupted crackling sound is produced, evi- 

 dently at will, with particular movements of the wings, but the sound is a muffled one, 

 though decidedly louder and sharper than that heard during its ordinary flight. I have 

 seen it lise to a height of ten feet, particularly when in face of a bank, ai.d it often 

 remains a considerable time in the air nearly stationary or moving slightly up and down. 



Spharagemon aequale (Say). This insect stridulates only during intervals of flight, 

 having evidently perfect control in the matter ; at nearly every turn it makes in its 

 somewhat wayward flight, it accompanies the swoop with a crackle which lasts but a 

 portion of a second. 



Spharagemon holli Scudd. According to McNeill this locust acts like Dissosteira 

 Carolina in remaining " stationary a few feet above the ground and in some manner pro- 

 duces a dry rustling note." 



Lactista gihbosus. According to Coquillett this grasshopper " sometimes makes a 

 rattling noise while on the wing," 



Trimerotropis vlnculata. Coquillett makes precisely the same remark of this as of 

 the preceding. 



Trimerotropis perplexa Brun. Bruner says " this is a noisy insect and produces a 

 very decided clatter when upon the wing, showing that it is not distantly removed from 

 the various members of the genus Circotettix." 



Trimerotropis citrina Scudd. A species which is either this or very closely allied to 

 it was heard by me at Garland, Colorado, making a dull continuous muffleJ thrrr daring 

 its short flight. 



Trimerotropis Columbia Scudd. (Ms.) This dark locust (allied to and perhaps not 

 distinct from T. suffiisa Scudd.) I heard in Wyoming making during its flight a clack- 

 ing sound lasting from a quarter of a minute to a minute and a half, made up of a sue 

 cession of sharp clacks, usually about five per second, but occasionally, and especially 

 just before alighting, hurrying to six per second. 



