FAMILY VI.-LOCUSTID.-E. 229 



very oblique; pronotuni flat, narrower in front than behind ; 

 lateral carina quite sharp, lobes of side curving obliquely 

 backwards in front and w^ell rounded behind. Wing-covers 

 narrow, broader at the base than the apex. Hind wings 

 long and quite narrow. Cerci of male swollen, curved in- 

 wards and toothed. Ovipositor very long and straight. 

 The stridulating organ is opaque and of a coarse texture in 

 the left wing-cover, but transparent at the center of the 

 right. 



The chief characters by which this genus is recognized are 

 the cone-like process of the vertex, the narrow wings, and 

 the sword-like ovipositor. These insects, not very common 

 in our state, are frequently called "Cone-heads" or "Sword- 

 bearers." Prof. McNeill says about the habits of these in- 

 sects: "All the species of Conocephalus seem to possess 

 more intelligence than is usual in Orthoptera, and the\' are 

 the most difficult of the order to approach. In escaping 

 they usually slip or fall into the grass instead of jumping or 

 flying; but they seem to fully understand that they are very 

 well protected by their color and form. If approached very 

 cautiously they often remain quite still upon the stem of 

 grass upon which you have surprised them with the usually 

 well founded expectation that you will not be able to dis- 

 tinguish them from the green herbage around. If they think 

 it worth while to make some active movement to escape 

 they wall frequently slip around on the other side of the stem 

 and walk down the stem to the ground or off upon another 

 plant. Unlike most Orthoptera they do not use their front 

 legs in holding to the mouth the thing upon which they feed. 

 Instead of biting they seem to wrench or tear aw^ay pieces 

 from the stems or leaves." 



A number of species occur in Minnesota, but how many 

 is as yet unknown, as but few specimens have been captured, 

 the insects being by no means common. 



a. Cone of vertex slender, about 3.5 mm. in length, and 

 w^th either the margfin or lower face black. 



