268 FAMILY VII.— GRYLLID.^. 



at an angle of about forty-five degrees with the body; then 

 holding them in such a position that the vScraper of one rests 

 upon the file of the other, he moves the tegmina back and 

 forth laterally, so that the file and scraper rasp upon each 

 other. This throws the tegmina into vibration, and pro- 

 duces the call. 



Crickets, and especially the House Crickets, may readily 

 bedestro\^ed by taking advantage of their liking for sweet 

 liquids, and any vessel containing beer or other fluids 

 placed about will usually collect and drown large numbers 

 of these insects. Thej' can also be killed b\' distributing un- 

 cooked vegetables, as ground-up carrots or potatoes, which 

 are stronglv poisoned with arsenic. Of course great care 

 must be exercised in the use of anj- poison in and about 

 dwellings. 



The sub family G^canthinas is represented by a single 

 genus. 



GENUS CEcanthus Serville. 



Thorax elongated, narrow, sides deflexed,. anterior por- 

 tion somewhat narrower than the posterior portion. An- 

 tennae about twice as long as the body. Hind legs long and 

 slender, with weak spines on the tibiee. Wings of female 

 wrapped around the body. Wing-covers of male flattened, 

 transparent, much firmer and broadU' spread out, causing 

 such a difference of appearance between the two sexes that 

 collectors consider them frequently widely different species. 



The members of this genus are well known insects, usu- 

 ally called "tree-crickets." They are delicate yellowish- 

 green or greenish-white insects found abundantly about 

 low bushes and tall plants. They are strictly arboreal. 

 About the time that our golden-rods are in full bloom 

 these insects can be found upon almost any of these plants, 

 and usually in pairs. They remain almost motionless 

 in such places during the day, but become very active 

 during the night. Though belonging to plant-feed- 



