SEPTEMBER. 241 



ORTHOPTEKA. GRYLLID^E. 



GKYLLUS. 



Generic Distinctions. Antenna long and setaceous, formed of 

 many indistinct joints ; palpi four ; head large ; thorax com- 

 pressed ; elytra inclined ; legs formed for leaping. 



GRYLLUS VIKEDISSIMUS. (Plate III.) Great Green Grass- 

 hopper. Body and elytra of a fine green ; the former about 

 two inches in length, the latter still longer, and compara- 

 tively narrow ; the antennae are also of great length. These 

 insects are found at the beginning of autumn in grassy 

 places, and in hedges by the sides of woods ; they fill the 

 meadows with their singing, but become silent on being ap- 

 proached. They are herbivorous, feeding in all their states 

 on grass and herbs ; though it is said that when in confine- 

 ment they will devour each other. The long ovipositor with 

 which the females are provided, enables them to deposit their 

 eggs at a considerable depth in the earth in small cells. The 

 young ones when hatched resemble their parents in form and 

 activity, but they are destitute of wings and elytra ; in the 

 state preceding that of the perfect insect, they have the ru- 

 diments of these organs. In this genus the eyes are very 

 large, and the front of the head is acute and projecting. 



