ORTHOPTERA OF NOVA SCOTIA PIERS. 215 



eastern part of Annapolis County, and it is doubtless found 

 throughout the entire province. 



Mecostethus gracilis (Scudder). 



A handsome species, apparently rare in this vicinity. Last 

 year I was able to obtain but four specimens, all males. One of 

 these was taken among long grass in a dry situation on the 

 summit of Block-house Hill, Halifax, September 1st, 1895. The 

 remaining three were captured in a damp, grassy place on the 

 side of the road near Cow Bay Bridge, on October 2nd. The 

 stridulating area on the wing of this species is large and pro. 

 minent, and stridulation may be easily produced in the dead 

 insect by moving the femora against the wings. The species 

 has not hitherto been reported from Canada. 



Melanoplus femur-rubrum (De Geer). 



Red-legged Locust. 



This excellent flyer is common in Halifax County. It was 

 also noted on the diked meadows about Windsor, and without 

 doubt is abundant throughout the entire province. It is generally 

 pistributed over Canada and the United States, occurring from 

 the Atlantic to the Pacific and south to Central America. It is 

 said to occur, however, only at certain suitable localities within 

 its limits, a favourable amount of humidity being the chief cli- 

 matic condition required. The species is closely related to the 

 very destructive Rocky Mountain Locust (M. spretus) the most 

 terrible insect pest in America. It seldom, however, exhibits 

 the migratory habits of the latter. Femur- ru b rum no doubt 

 does much damage throughout Nova Scotia, devouring field 

 crops and other vegetation, and it should be destroyed whenever 

 possible. The species was noted up to October 20th, 1895. 



Melanoplus atlanis (Riley). 



Lesser Migratory Locust. 



Apparently not common about Halifax, but at present very 

 abundant on Sable Island. Next to M. spretus of the Western 

 United States, this is the most destructive locust of North 

 America, and the question of how to protect the country from 



