ACRIDIUM. INSECTS. 317 



Antennae generally of more than sixteen joints. 



A. Body generally long and narrow, with the head pyramidal ; antennae either very 

 short and conical, or the length of the head and thorax, compressed and lanceolate. 



Gen. PROSCOPUS, TRUXALIS, XYPHICERUS. 



B. Body short or simply oblong, thick ; head not pyramidal ; antennae always as 

 long as the head and thorax, filiform or clavate. 



a. Antennae filiform in both sexes. 

 * Pre-sternum horned. 



Gen. ACRIDIUM. 

 ** Pre-sternum without a horn. 



Gen. (EDIPODA, (elytra and wings proper for flight in both sexes,) PODISMA, 

 (elytra and wings very short, in one of the sexes at least, and unfit for flight.) 



b. Antennae, those of the males at least, tumid at their extremity. 



Gen. GOMPHOCERUS. 



2. Anterior extremity of the pre- sternum concave, and receiving a part of the mouth ; 

 labium quadrifid ; no ball between the hooks of the tarsi. 



Antennae of thirteen or fourteen joints ; posterior extremity of the thorax prolonged 

 into a point. 

 Gen. TETRIX. 



Gen. ACRIDIUM, Geoff. Lat. Gryllus, Lin. 

 Antennae filiform, inserted between the eyes, at some distance 

 from their internal border ; mouth uncovered ; palpi not com- 

 pressed ; legs proper for leaping ; tarsi with three joints ; a 

 spongy ball between the hooks. 



The insects of this genus have a large head ; eyes oval and projecting, with three 

 small smooth eyes placed in a triangular form on the vertex ; two very strong edg- 

 ed and broad mandibles ; thorax as broad as the body, flattened or carinated above, 

 and elongated posteriorly ; elytra coriaceous, as long as the wings ; wings large, of- 

 ten coloured, concealed by the elytra in a state of repose ; posterior feet long, with 

 the thighs tumid and furrowed, and the legs furnished with two rows of strong 

 spines. 



These insects leap strongly, and some species fly rapidly, and to great distances. 

 Like the grasshoppers they live on herbs. The larvae differ little from the per- 

 fect insect, but in wanting wings and elytra. The perfect insects produce a sharp 

 sound by rubbing their posterior thighs against their elytra and wings. This genus 

 is very numerous in species ; and if some of the migratory ones are the scourge 

 of some countries, in other places, as in Barbary, they are collected as food. Even 

 in the southern provinces of France, according to Latreille, the children chew with 

 pleasure their fleshy thighs. In Europe they do not acquire wings till towards the 

 end of summer or autumn. 



A. migratorium, Lat. (G. migratorius, Lin.) The Locust. An- 

 tennae brownish-yellow ; head green or brown, obtuse, with a line 

 along the middle of the forehead ; two others, one on each side, 

 blackish, and the mandibles bluish-black ; thorax greenish or 

 brown, carinated, with two dorsal lines, and a lateral spot black ; 

 elytra brownish -yellow, with a great number of black spots; 

 wings transparent, with a greenish tinge ; feet grayish-brown, 

 with the posterior thighs spotted with black at their internal side ; 

 legs reddish. About 2 inches long. Found in France, the Le- 

 vant, &c Shaw, vi. pi. 48. 



Many countries are frequently exposed to the devastations of locusts. They ap- 

 pear in numbers which obscure the light of the sun, and render the countries they 



