14 THE ACRIDIIDAE OF MINNESOTA 
author made excursions along the shore. A diversity of color existed 
among this species; many were so colored as to look exactly like the 
wet varicolored soil. Some had rich russet-red over the whole upper 
surface of the body or the visible portions of the individuals were 
entirely clay-colored, or a part of the pronotum only was colored in 
this manner, while still others were almost coal-black above. These 
varieties, to say nothing of many more not mentioned, were in perfect 
harmony with the environment. On careful inspection it was interest- 
ing to observe with what accuracy these colors agreed with the tinges 
of reds, yellows, browns, and grayish blacks existing here and there 
as patches in the soil. The extreme caution of these insects made it 
difficult to capture them, and, as they use their wings perfectly in 
flight, this added to the difficulty of taking the species. Keeping close 
to the water’s edge, the author drove them along with an open um- 
brella until coming to a little projection of land upon which a large 
number had congregated. Finally upon a sudden rush at the insects, 
they flew up in hundreds, to find that return to land was impossible; 
they fell back into the water. It was only necessary now to gather the 
little swimmers in as they made exquisite use of their dilated, paddle- 
like, hind tibiae in seeking the shore. The aquatic powers of this 
insect are more perfect than those of any other of our local species.” 
The following notes made by the writer while in Iowa may be 
added: Fort Dodge, Iowa, July 12, 1910—P. cucullatus was very 
abundant along the muddy banks of a small stream. Mating was in 
evidence and many pairs were im coitu. There appears to be every 
possible shade of dark coloration among the individuals. The males 
are mainly of two distinct color types: one rather uniformly light- 
colored or grayish and the other very dark-colored with the ventral 
parts and cheeks chalky, giving much the appearance of Tettigidea 
lateralis. The grayish males appear to predominate. 
This insect has been taken at nearly all places in Minnesota where 
collecting has been done and will doubtless be found throughout the 
State wherever muddy banks offer favorable habitation. 
BATRACHIDEAE 
Among the Batrachideae the body is rugulose or scabrous; the 
front is vertical or slightly oblique; vertex generally large and trun- 
cate anteriorly; frontal costa always sulcate from base to median 
ocellus ; usually narrow though sometimes widely separated; antennae 
are rather long and usually of from 16 to 22 joints, the first joint being 
much larger than the others and the second joint globular and small; 
