464 ENTOMOLOGICAL NEWS [DeC, '14 



ously reported, that no staccato lisps precede the long, lisping 

 monotone s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s-s, which may continue several min- 

 utes without pause. 



The notes of this Xiphidion are much louder than those of 

 any Xiphidion the writer has yet become acquainted with. 

 The long persistent monotone without the preceding staccato 

 lisps makes the habit of stridulation of this Xiphidion similar 

 to that of the species of Conocephalus which have acquired 

 the habit of prolonged stridulation. Although the Xiphidions 

 usually keep well within the grass and low herbage of fields 

 and meadows, the writer has observed Xiphidion strictum 

 resting several feet from the ground in shrubs during stridula- 

 tion. 



Very noticeable differences in the manner of stridulation 

 characterize many of the species of Xiphidion. According to 

 the character of the notes these insects may be grouped into 

 three classes. 



Xiphidions in the first class always produce a few, brief 

 staccato lisps followed by a more or less prolonged lisping, 

 monotone, or in the case of X. nemorale, the staccato lisps 

 precede from two to thirty-two brief phrases rapidly repeated. 

 A number of Xiphidions in this class stridulate in quite the 

 same manner as the more common species of Orchelvmum. 

 Although barely audible, the stridulations of X. fasciatnm in 

 delivery and duration are an almost perfect reproduction of 

 the staccato lisps and succeeding monotone characteristic of 

 Orchelimum vulgare or O. molossuin. 



The notes of Xiphidions in the second class consist of weak, 

 lisping i)hrases alone, as staccato lisps are quite wanting. The 

 stridulations of X. allardi are of this character. Among the 

 Orchelimums this is also the habit of stridulation of 0. minor. 



In the stridulations of Xiphidions of the third class, staccato 

 lisps are also wanting, but the note is a long-continued, lisping 

 monotone similar to that of some of the cone-headed grass- 

 hoppers, although not nearly as loud and penetrating. A''. 

 strictum stridulatcs in this manner. This habit of stridulation 



