Occasional Papers of the Museum of Zoology 51 



the rate of three or four per second for an indefinite length 

 of time. Before starting its song the insect usually assumes 

 a position six to twelve inches above the ground on a stout 

 weed stem ; at the first sign of danger it drops to the ground 

 and hides among the bases of the plants. Its characteristic 

 notes were heard on several occasions near Devils Lake, 

 coming from the vegetation of roadsides and drv pastures, 

 but at times when it was impossible to stop to search for their 

 source. In the vicinity of Bottineau Anabnis simplex was 

 common in the waste lands and stubble-fields ; the thick, tan- 

 gled growth of Russian thistles covering much of the uncul- 

 tivated land in the neighborhood seemed to be a favorite hab- 

 itat for the species. Xo specimens were taken in the western 

 part of the state, although it almost certainly occurs there. 



Stenopelmatinae 



Stenopchnatns fusciis Haldeman.-^ — ]\Iarmarth. Slope Co., 

 Sept. 12, 1920 (Chas. A. Kinnie), i male. 



In a letter dated September 2^. 1920, Mr. Kinnie gives the 

 following information: "Since this was taken two more have 

 been found. It is called by the Mexicans miiiia (nina?) or 

 childus. They say that it is found on the west coast of Mex- 

 ico, and that the bite is deadly, 'worse than a rattlesnake' — 

 also that it is slow in biting; when approached it rears back 

 with its legs in the air, and when it bites one it does not let 

 go until al! the poison is injected. There is no cure for the 

 bite, and persons bitten will die in an hour. It is a close rel- 

 ative of the '\'inegar Roan' ; both bugs bore in the ground and 

 come out at night. The three taken were all found after sun- 

 down." The belief concerning the poisonous nature of this 

 insect seems to be widespread. The specimen is fully adult 

 and of the extreme megacephalic type. 



28 Determination verified by J. A. G. Rehn. 



