i:-5s 



b(^twoon tho fore legs, called tlu^ ))rosternal spine, 

 tapers hut sli<;litly and not at all in the outer half, 

 so that tli(> rounded lip is comparatively large; in 

 (ilhinin i\\v. s])ine tapers throughout or the outer half 

 is sl(Mider, so that the tip is small and narrowly 

 rounded. The tratisvers(! grooves of th(^ thorax are 

 stronger in (ithinis, and the fine, smooth, eUivated 

 median longitudinal line, although strong on the 

 postcrioi- half, is nearly oi' (piite absent on the 

 anterior half, in side view the; noteli between these 

 l-wo halves is brotid, and the outline contimies b{\v(»iid 

 V \nlillllfflw W '^' '"'^' '^ slightly different angle. In jcniur-nthniin , 



on the other hand, th(^ smooth line is lu^arly always 

 |)reseid, on the fi'oid. half and almost as strong as 

 on the poslci'ior hnlf. in side \iew the notch is small, 

 and th(>r(> is no angle in the outliiu; at this point. 

 The black bar on each side of the thorax is usually 

 solid in l<niiir-rul>ru)ii , but- h;is a light spot on the 

 middle division in (tllanis. Sprdufi is closely related 

 to (itlanis, and shows all the dilTcM'ences which exist 

 between the latter and jvtinir-nihrinn but in a more 

 markcnl degree. The wing-c()V(>rs of atUuiis are slightly 

 longer than those of jcnnir-rnhrinn] in .s7)rr///.s they are 

 imich longer, being half as long again as the body. 

 The eggs of these grasshoppers are laid in the earth (l''ig. l"i()), the 

 short, hooklike structures at the tip of the female abdomen being used 

 to peneti'atc the ground, into which the abdomen is thrust, usually to 

 its full length. A large mnuber of cylindrical eggs are then exti'uded 

 in a mass, forming an eloiigate-o\al body imb(Ml(l<>(l in a tough secretion, 

 fluid at- first, but- hardening when (>\posed to the air. I*'irm dry ground 

 is chosen l)\' the female for the d(>posit of her eggs, un])lowed bordei's of 

 fields, pasture paths, and farm roadways being favorite locations. The 

 two larger species, dijjcrcniidlis and hirilhiliis, lay tlunr eggs in one oi' 

 two mass(>s, irregularly arranged, the former as many as 170 eggs in a 

 mass, and the latter 54 to 72. Tlu; three smallei- spcH'ies deposit from 

 two to four masses, the eggs in 

 which are regulai'ly arranged in four 

 lengthwis(> rows. Commonly not 

 o\('i' a hundi'ed eggsar(> laid by each 

 female. 



The egg mass(>s of all these spe- 

 cies remain over wilder. Those of hirilldliis \w/\\\ to hatch in March: 

 those of spnhis in the lattei- half of that motdh in latitude ii")*^, and 

 ;.d)out four (laA's lal-er lor each degree northward. Those of jciunr- 



Ji'io. 124. 'J'lie Lessor 

 ( lnis.sli()|)p(ir, M e I <i - 

 iKipluH (illdiiin. I'',ri- 

 liirK<'<l im iiiilicatud. 

 (LuKKor.) 



I''ii:. 125. Tlie Rocky Mountniii Grass- 

 PPtM-, Mflanoplua sprelus. Natural size. 



