May, igoi] 



PSYCHE. 



199 



curvature (foreshortened in Fig. 4). 



Eacii of the extremes of the series is 

 thus represented by about one third of 

 the specimens, and the intergrades by 

 the remaining third, but these inter- 

 grades are so numerous and the grada- 

 tion is so perfect that it is quite impossi- 

 lile to separate tlie specimens into two 

 series. Nor is there reason on other 

 grounds for so doing. The specimens 

 evidently all belong to one species ex- 

 hibiting a high degree of secondary 

 sexual variation in the male, a variation 

 whose function and value have yet to be 

 determined, but the key to which may 

 perhaps be secured by careful observa- 

 tion of the habits of the species. 



This character — the form of the ante- 

 rior tibiae of the male — has been used for 

 many years in systematic treatises for 

 distinguishing the species of this genus 

 but it is now evident that its worth has 

 been greatly over-rated and it must be 

 regarded with suspicion and in some 

 cases as worthless for that purpose. 

 In certain forms, of which I have ex- 

 amined considerable series, this great 



variability apparently does not occur, 

 the tibiae of the male and female being 

 alike. The extremely bifurcate condi- 

 tion was recorded and figured Ijy Mr. 

 Scudder in characterizing T. apicalis Say 

 and T. ienniiialis Scudd. ( lioston Journ. 

 Nat. Hist., vii, p. 424, — 1862). The form 

 I have treated above is the latter of 

 these — tcrminalis; and from material in 

 Mr. Scudder's collection I am able to 

 state that at least the normal { 9 ) form of 

 tibia is found in males of apicalis also. 

 Possibly tiTiniiialis may prove to be but 

 a race of apicalis but until the genus is 

 revised it is best to regard them as differ- 

 ent, apicalis appearing slightly larger, 

 paler in color, and usually having rela- 

 tively longer wings. Both of these forms 

 are widely spread over at least the east- 

 ern half of the United .States, and are 

 apparently not uncommon locally. It is 

 hoped that anyone having an opportunity 

 to do so will make observations on the 

 habits of these interesting little crickets 

 and attempt to discover the use of this 

 pecidiar modification of the tibiae and 

 its value to the insect. 



PULVINARIA INNUMERABILIS K^ATHV. 



BY GEO. B. KING, L./^WRENCE. MASS. 



Although Piilvinaria iitnuinerabilis evident to the writer, that a more clear 



Rathv. has been the subject of many and comprehensive description should 



published articles, together with illustra- be given together with some descriptive 



tions of the species in its various stages notes of its variation and distribution ; 



of developments; it has become quite moreover it is hoped that the following 



