102 FAMILIAR FEATURES OF THE ROADSIDE. 



Red-legged Locust. 



ers, who is usually decked out in a variety of col- 

 ors, is really a locust. The commonest species in 

 our Eastern fields is called Melanoplus femur-ru- 

 brum* or, in straight English, the 

 red-legged locust.* This 

 destructive insect is widely 

 distributed over the United 

 States east of the Rocky 

 Mountains. It swarms on the 

 grassy intervales of the White Mountain region, and 

 covers the broad meadows of New Jersey; it is 

 everywhere, and always a 

 perfect nuisance, devour- 

 ing every green thing, 

 and even relishing the 

 flavor of a silk umbrella 

 or a dainty muslin dress, f 



Beware the loCUSt ! for Melanoplus atlanis, similar to M. 

 , . , , . , , , ., femur-rubrum. 



besides his awkward habit 



of staining one's clothing with " molasses," he will 

 make a dainty repast off a silk handkerchief or the 

 printed flowers of a lawn dress ! His song is a some- 

 what pianissimo z-ee-e-e-e, which is produced by 



* Another common species is Melanoplus atlanis, similar to 

 the one described. 



f In Canada and New England some years ago his ravages 

 were particularly extensive and destructive. 



