290 THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 



Hurst Hill and at Kamnor enclosure, and amongst them 

 occurred three of the Orthoptera. The commonest, of course, 

 was Forficida auricularia ; but Meconema varium, the silent 

 grasshopper (!) of the oak and other forest trees, pale green in 

 colour and most delicate in structure, was quite common too. 

 With these were taken several females of the large brown grass- 

 hopper (Thamnotrizon cinereus (Plate III. fig. 1) ). Ungainly 

 creatures they look, with short stout body and hind legs, and 

 antennae of inordinate length. Of wings they are practically 

 destitute, for the tiny scales possessed by the male, and still 

 smaller points on the thorax of the female, can be of no use to 

 them in their progress amongst the herbage and bushes. Though 

 not often seen, they are fairly common insects in the southern 

 part of England. 



Another grasshopper, with long hind legs and antennas, and 

 abbreviated wings, met with on Esher Common, at Woking, and 

 in the New Forest, was Platycleis braclujptera. It may generally 

 be found hopping about on heather in rather damp situations. 

 In some specimens the elytra are to a great extent bright green, 

 in others grey, not an unusual form of variation with this division 

 of the Orthoptera. 



Though my note on Mecostetkus grossus (ante, p. 169, and 

 Plate II.) has not so far elicited the record of any new localities, 

 yet it should be stated that I took it plentifully in the New Forest 

 during the first half of August, and at three fresh bogs, making 

 seven in all (some of them several miles apart) which have been 

 recorded for it in the New Forest. But few females were secured. 

 M. grossus varies considerably in size, and to some extent in colour, 

 one female being very bright, with rosy dorsal surface of thorax. 

 When handled this insect emits a dark brown-green liquid from 

 its mouth. 



But perhaps this year the most interesting species taken was 

 XiphidiuiH dorsale. Though it does not seem to have been often 

 noticed in this country, it probably is not uncommon ; and, in 

 order that those interested in the British Orthoptera may be 

 assisted in making a search for it next year, a life-sized figure 

 (Plate III. fig. 2) accompanies this note. 



In size the female is about 19 mm. long, exclusive of the ovi- 

 positor, which reaches about 8 mm. ; the male is smaller. In 

 colour both sexes are delicate pale emerald-green, with a broad 

 crimson-brown dorsal stripe along the whole length of the body 

 — -head, thorax, and abdomen. The vertex is produced as a 

 sharp projection between the antennae, which are very long 

 and slender. The elytra are shorter than the abdomen, nearly 

 hyaline, with reddish brown veins ; the wings are very tiny. 

 The ovipositor is shorter than the abdomen, rather slender, 

 turned up slightly at the tip, but not greatly so. The cerci of 

 the male are conical and pointed, with a distinct internal tooth. 



