GRASSHOPPERS IN GENERAL. 23 



Each egg is preceded by a light-colored mucous fluid. Part of this 

 fluid passes through the walls of the cavity and causes surrounding 

 particles of dirt, sand and in some cases small clods ( see plate in, fig. 

 d ) to adhere, so that the pods when removed from the ground are 

 protected first by a coat of this sticky substance and an outer layer 

 composed of particles of surrounding earth. This forms a brittle crust 

 which, when pressed, often scales off, as shown by plate in, c. When 

 the ground is firm, the walls of the pod are generally broken away 

 when the earth is disturbed, thus exposing the naked eggs. 



This substance before hardening is quite plastic ; after hardening 

 it is somewhat fragile. It is insoluble in water. A pod which re- 

 mained in water thirty days appeared to be as firm as when placed 

 there. When the eggs are all deposited the female covers them with 

 a small amount of this sebaceous fluid. This hardens into a honey- 

 comb structure, as shown is cross-section of top of pod FT in plate in. 

 The cross-line near top of pod, at 5' in plate in, shows depth of this 

 covering. The whole pod is finished about one-quarter inch below 

 the surface of the ground, and the ground covered over, leaving no 

 trace of work, as shown on ground surface in plate n. 



The arrangement of the eggs is shown in the longitudinal section of 

 the pod in the foreground of plate n. 



Number of eggs in pod is about 100, and in the ovary about the 

 same number can be counted. 



Plate n is from nature. The writer had made a section through 

 the vivarium, showing egg pods in position, and, while the artist was 

 sketching this, a locust very accommodatingly came forward, began and 

 completed the work of oviposition. 



Where the eggs are laid is of greatest interest to the farmer. The 

 alfalfa fields with no intervening weeds between the alfalfa plants 

 f urnish excellent open spots for oviposition. Here I saw many species 

 placing their eggs, and was surprised to find the Long- winged Locust, 

 Dissosteira longipennis, among the number. Mr. Wm. Weber, who 

 was with me and rendered valuable assistance during the summer, gave 

 this point careful attention. He was able to cover considerable terri- 

 tory in the southwest portion of Edwards county. This territory in- 

 cluded pastures, alfalfa fields, and cultivated lands. He found the 

 yellow grasshoppers depositing eggs in all these places. They were far 

 more abundant, however, in the alfalfa fields, and remarkably so in the 



DESCRIPTION OF PLATE II. Melanoplus differentialis, female, ovipositing ; 

 egg-pods of same species exposed to view. Grasshopper at right is depositing 

 eggs. Three egg-pods in section of soil show position of pods and depth from 

 the surface. Egg-pod in sand near grasshopper. Egg-pod in foreground, opened 

 on one side to show position of eggs within; this one contained 109 eggs. 



