SUBFAMILY ACRIDINAE 85 
somewhat incurved. Subgenital of male very short apically, the apical 
margin not elevated, strongly rounded, entire, broad. 
This insect we have always with us and the fact that it has adapted 
itself to conditions in regions of the most careful and improved sys- 
tems of cultivation makes it a form of real economic importance. 
While ordinarily no account is taken of the damage done by this 
species, because of the fact that it is always present, yet if we could 
but tabulate the damage it does the result would be truly startling. 
It prefers lowlands and at times may be seen by thousands on low 
fields, while on the hills near by it may be scarce or missing. It has a 
swift and well-sustained flight when alarmed. Fortunately this, like 
most species of this genus, is largely a creature of conditions and even 
when climatic conditions are favorable it is attacked by so many 
enemies and parasites that the naturally rapid increase is commonly 
kept within bounds. Like most of its near relatives, it oviposits late 
in summer and autumn and the eggs hatch in spring, usually during 
May. During a study of this species in the field for several years, con- 
siderable variation in most of the characteristic structures has been 
noted. In any large series, it will be noted that the cerci, furcula, and 
length of the tegmina vary considerably in development. After exam- 
ining many thousands of this species within the past eight years, it 
appears that in abnormally dry seasons the tegmina are uniformly 
longer. Indeed, during the dry summers of 1910 and 1911, in the 
majority of specimens taken, it was noted that the tegmina exceeded 
the tip of the posterior femora considerably (Plate II, 8), and 
in many cases were fully as long, relatively, as in M. atlanis. Further, 
this tendency appears to be accompanied by an instinctive inclination 
for more extended flight and in such seasons this species, together 
with M. atlanis, makes more or less lengthy flights late in summer. 
The question arises, would a more prolonged series of dry seasons 
give a truly migratory form of these two species? If so, at least in 
the form M. atlanis, we should have an insect almost identical with the 
Rocky Mountain locust, M. spretus. 
Melanoplus extremus Walker 
Melanoplus extremus is of rather small or medium size, varying 
in coloration from dark brown to ferruginous, sometimes also of a 
greenish yellow tint; postocular bar extended back upon the lateral 
lobes of the prozona, which are usually lighter than the disk. The 
species is dimorphic in length of tegmina, but so far as known we 
have only the form M. e. junius, in which the tegmina do not attain 
the tip of the posterior femora. The long-winged form, I. e. scandens, 
may yet be taken in the extreme northeastern part of the State, since 
