212 ORTHOPTERA OF NOVA SCOTIA PIERS. 



ments, make it very difficult to detect. Attention is chiefly 

 directed to it by the loud stridulation of the males at nightfall. 

 During the day they are usually silent, or at rare intervals 

 produce a short, sharp note, zip. After dark, however, they 

 make the swamps resound with their loud calls, and we then 

 become aware of their abundance. On close examination at such 

 a time, the males usually only one on each bush may be seen 

 walking very slowly over the leaves and twigs. Occasionally 

 they suddenly slightly lift and part the wing-covers and close 

 them again, thereby producing a sharp zip or crick, not very 

 loud this being the note which is usually heard during day- 

 light. After making this sound at irregular intervals for some 

 time, the wing-covers are opened to a greater extent, and are 

 then again closed, producing a long-drawn, exceedingly loud 

 cr-r-r-r-T-r-r-ick, This is repeated in couplets several times in 

 succession. This challenging cry is immediately answered by 

 one after another of its neighbouring fellows, until numbers are 

 rasping out their ear-piercing notes, as notable a rural chorus as 

 that of the Tree Toads. Gradually the sounds become few, but 

 after a short interval they are again frequent. This note is 

 doubtless the loudest produced by any of the Orthoptera I have 

 yet heard in the province. It can be partially produced by 

 moving the wing-covers of a captive or dead individual. The 

 note bears little or no resemblance to that of its famous relative, 

 the broad-winged Katydid ( Cy rtopliylliis concavus) of the Cen- 

 tral and Eastern States. Our species, as I have before observed, 

 is usually very slothful. Occasionally, however, in daytime, 

 and doubtless also at night, they fly some distance from tree to 

 tree. One noted on September 28th, while it was attempting to 

 cross a road, made only short flights, and usually fell on its 

 side when it came to the ground. It, however, easily flew to 

 and lighted upon a fence rail. Usually the insect can be readily 

 captured with the fingers while it clings to a leaf. Occasionally, 

 on a near approach to the bush upon which it rests, it will drop 

 suddenly a foot or two to a branch beneath. I have not yet 

 succeeded in detecting the female, although I have carefully 



