230 FAMILY VI.— LOCUSTID.^. 



b. A black line on each margin of cone extending from 

 the apex half way or more to base; inner, lower 

 carina of posterior femora with four or five minute 



spines ensiger Harris. 



bb. Cone of vertex entirely black beneath; posterior 

 femora armed on both of the lower carinas with 

 a number of plainly visible spines. 



nehrascensis Bruner. 



aa. Cone of vertex rather stout, less than 3 mm. in length, 



devoid of black markings robustus Scudder. 



Conocephalus ensiger Harris. 



THE SWORD-BEARER. 



A slender-bodied species, the general color of which is 

 usually grass green, the body and face paler; the posterior 



tibige and tip of ovipositor 

 infuscated. Lateral carinas 

 of pronotum sometimes 

 with a faint yellow line, 

 more plainly visible in the 

 dried specimens. Tegmina 



Fig. T 53.— Conocephalus ensiger, male. VCry long audslcndcr. CoUC 

 Natural size. Original. , . - 



of vertex With a small tooth 

 projectingdownward from the front of its base. Ovipositor 

 of excessive length, straight, the apex pointed. 



Measurements. — Male: Length of body, 26 mm.; of 

 tegmina, 42 mm.; of posterior femora, 21 mm. Female: 

 Length of body, 28 mm. ; of tegmina, 47 mm. ; of posterior 

 femora, 23 mm.; of cone of vertex, 3.25 mm.; of pronotum, 

 7.5 mm.; of ovipositor, 31 mm. 



This is the best known species of Sword-bearers in Min- 

 nesota, and it is by no means very common. It is found 

 among the tall grasses along ditches and swamps. Here in 

 St. Anthony Park it is most Irequently observed upon the 

 stems of a coarse grass (Andropogon), which grows in dry 



