216 ORTHOPTERA OF NOVA SCOTIA PIERS. 



its ravages, has occupied the attention of all agriculturists and 

 economic entomologists. It occurs from 53 north latitude or 

 even nearly to the Arctic circle, to the north of Mexico, and from 

 ocean to ocean. With femur-rubrum it has, perhaps, a greater 

 range than any other species of North American Acrididse. To 

 an unpracticed eye, it can be easily mistaken for the less 

 destructive femur-rubrum, from which it has only of recent 

 years been separated by the late Prof. Riley. To distinguish it, 

 a minute examination of the last abdominal segment and the 

 cerci of the male is necessary. The former is notched in the 

 present species, and the latter are of uniform width and rounded 

 at the end, instead of tapering as in femur-rubrum. The 

 females are very difficult to distinguish, these differences being 

 inapplicable to that sex. 



Although I have examined hundreds of specimens of femur- 

 rubrum collected about Halifax during the past summer, yet I 

 have found but few of the present species. A male was taken on 

 August 29th in a dry field, two more were taken in short, poor 

 grass on Camp Hill, September 28th, and another was captured 

 at Cow Bay, October 2nd. I think it probable, however, that it 

 will be found more frequently in such situations as Camp Hill. 



Last fall the Marine and Fisheries Department gave me some 

 locusts that had been taken on Sable Island, off the coast of 

 Nova Scotia, on September 23rd, 1894. Upon examination they 

 proved to be M. atlanis, one male and three females. I was 

 told that these insects had suddenly become a' frightfnl scourge 

 upon the island, insomuch as to demand attention from the 

 authorities in charge. Mr. R. J. Boutilier, superintendent of the 

 place, informs me that up to about 1891, he had neither seen 

 nor heard of any locusts upon the island. About that time, 

 however, they made their appearance, and since then have 

 increased at an appalling rate. So destructive did they become, 

 that in 1894 it was only possible to cut one load of hay at a place 

 where fourteen loads had previously been obtained. They seem 

 to attack the grass near the root, and unless kept in check they 

 will ultimately destroy what little vegetation there is upon the 



