51 



Like the Acridiansthe locustids are musical ; but the "musical " 

 organs and " ears " are situated quite differently in the two groups. 

 In the locustids the ears are on the forelegs. The left elytron 

 has a file on its inner surface, while the right one has a sharp edge 

 on a part of its inner margin. These constitute the musical organs 

 and are found in the males only, except in two non-British families. 

 When the elytra are rapidly vibrated the sharp edge passing under 

 the file produces the " musical " sound. In species in which the 

 elytra are greatly reduced, it is this part which remains. 



Though colour, size, and wing-development are not good points 

 on which to differentiate species, yet our nine natives are easily 

 separated by such means, so I shall make no further excuse for 

 drawing up a table on these lines. It must, of course, be used for 

 no other purpose than for identifying the British species. 



BiiiTiSH Locustids. 



Leptojihyes puiictatissima. 

 Pholidoptera griseoaptera. 



Meconema thalassinuvi. 

 Phasgontira viridissima. 



Tettigonia vernicivora. 

 Metrioptera albopunctata^ 



Metrioptera roeselii. 

 Metrioptera brachyptera. 



Conocephalus dorsalis. 



-A strange-looking insect 

 is our sole roDresentative of the Phaneropteridfe. It is mature in 

 autumn and late summer, when it may be found on shrubs and 

 bushes, a favourite resting place apparently being the upper surface 

 of a bramble-leaf, where, as it is far from agile, it may easily be 

 captured. Other plants, on which it has been recorded as seen, are 

 alder and osier. It has been found at "sugar" (Dixey and Hamm). 

 The strange look of the insect is due to its plump little body 

 (reminding one somewhat of the common spider), its long legs and 

 antennas, and the almost entire absence of organs of flight. In 

 general colouring it is full deep green, but on a close inspection it 

 is found to be irrorated with a multitude of tiny black spots. A 

 few yellowish and brownish markings also are seen when the insect 

 is examined attentively. 



Leptophyes punctatissima, Bos 



* Average length of the body of the female from the front of the head to 

 the base of the ovipositor. 



