MONTGOMERY: GORDIACEA. 25 
1851. Leidy describes G. varius, n. sp., which is distinguished from 
@. aquaticus in that “the caudal extremity of the female is trifurcated, 
while that of the European species is blunt. The length is from 4 to 
12 inches. Of this species there are several varieties from different 
localities, which may upon further examination prove to be distinct spe- 
cies. , . . A second species of Gordius was obtained by Professor Baird 
from a spring in Essex County, New York. It is much more deli- 
cate than the former, and from 5 to 7 inches long. The female caudal 
extremity is blunt. The male caudal extremity is bifurcate and fringed 
with peculiar epidermoid appendages. For this second species the name 
Gordius lineatus was proposed.” In the same year Diesing writes of 
G. chordodes, n. sp. : “Corpus longissimum teretiusculum crassum rigi- 
dum, fusco-brunneum. Caput apice rotundatum. .. . Habitaculum. 
Acanthodis glabrata: in cavo abdominis, in Brasilia (Beschke). Spe- 
cimen identicum femineum ex aqua in Brasilia hausit (Natterer).” 
Diesing’s species is not sufficiently characterized. 
1853. Baird mentions two new species from North America, of which 
the first is a good species: G. platyura, n. sp. : “Body of a uniform dull 
white color, quite smooth, with a depressed line on one side throughout 
its whole length, obscurely ringed at unequal distances, narrower at the 
anterior extremity and terminating in a broad, flattish tail, which is 
slightly bifid. Length of animal 32 inches, breadth of middle of body 
about 4 a lino; tail 1 line broad. Jamaica?” Q, fasciatus, n. sp. : 
“Epidermis granulated. . . . Body smooth, skin prettily shagreened 
with very fine lines crossing each other in opposite directions, of a light 
color banded with broad patches of dark brown. Anterior extremity 
smaller than posterior, and roughened with raised circular ridges, which 
extend for about three lines, and as well as posterior extremity of a very 
dark color, almost black. Length 114 inches, breadth about 1 milli- 
meter.” This was a female from North America. I regard this descrip- 
tion of G. fasciatus as wholly inadequate for purposes of identification, 
and on this account judge that Römer (’96) is in error in placing it 
as a Synonyme of @. aquaticus Linn, Leidy (°53) mentions Gordit of 
a milk-white color as very common in grasshoppers in the vicinity of 
Philadelphia. 
1855. Möbius gives a good description of Chordodes puosus, n. sp. 
from Venezuela ; though he confused the head end with the posterior 
extremity: length 212 mm., “er . . . nahm aber während neun Tagen, 
die er noch im Wasser, sich träge bewegend, lebte, um 259 mm. zu, so 
dass seine Linge, als er todt war, 471 mm. betrug”; tail end swollen, 
