226 THE ENTOMOLOGIST S RECORD. 



extreme, nearly black, form (var. robsoni) has occurred since about 1890' 

 (in 1904, dark form about 10%, black about 3%). The black var. may 

 have grey or white fringes (Arkle). Black parents gave 5 light, 5' 

 intermediate, 14 black (Arkle, Ent., 1904, p. 187). A black $ gave 

 4 black and 21 dark grey (South, Ent., 1904, p. 264). Light parents 

 gave 11 light, 1 black (Arkle). 



Melanism in larv^. — In the Newcastle district, melanism is 

 reported in the larvae of Odontupera bidentata, Miselia oxijacanthae, 

 Abraxas (jrossnlariata. In 0. bidentata, most larvffi are nearly black,, 

 about one in 50 being pale (Nicholson). Of M. oxyacanthae, about 

 6% are grey, the prevalent form is brown and dark brown, and 10% are 

 an intense velvety black (Rosie). In A. yrossulariata, 15% deep black,, 

 sometimes with white marks on the anal plate, the plate on 2nd leg, 

 and a light ventral line. The imago is normal. This variety was 

 first observed 80 years ago, and has become much commoner (Rosie,, 

 Robson). 



[To he continued.) 



Synopsis of the Orthoptera of Western Europe. 



By MALCOLM BUEB, B.A., F.L.S., F.Z.S., F.E.S. 

 (Continued from p. 212.) 



Genus IV : Isophya, Brunner. 

 This genus resembles the last in the form of the pronotum, that is,, 

 in having the transverse sulcus behind the middle, and in having the- 

 hinder border straight or broadly sinuate, but not rounded as in: 

 Poecilimon ; the form of the cerci is the same as in Poecilimon, and 

 that distinguishe_s it from /ktrhitiates. There are a number of difificuli 

 eastern species, but only three occur in western Europe. 



Table of Species. 

 1. Ovipositor 2J times as long as pronotum; pronotum, 



seen from the side, flat .. .. .. ..1. costata, Br. 



1.1. Ovipositor less than twice as long as pronotum; 

 pronotum, seen from side, concave above. 

 2. Large ; subgenital lamina <? with hinder border 



broad, roundly emarginate . . . . . . 2. pyken^ia, Serv. 



2.2. Smaller ; subgenital lamina s narrow pos- 

 teriorly, triangularly emarginate . . . . 3. kraussi, Brunner. 



1. Isophya costata, Brunner. 



A member of the group in Avhich the ovipositor is 2-|- times as long 

 as the pronotum ; fastigium of the vertex dilated apicaliy ; colour green. 

 Length of body, 20min.-23mm. J and ?; of pronotum, 5-5mm. ^ ,. 

 5-2mm 5 ; of posterior femora, 20mm. ^ , 18mm. 2 ; of ovipositor,. 

 13mm. 5 . 



A rare species, which has been taken in July at Modling near- 

 Vienna. 



2. Isophya pyren^a, Serville. 

 [^caniptoxipha, Fieber, Brunner, and Redtenbacher). 



Characterised by the uniform green colour. Length of body,. 

 22mm. -25mm. S and 5 ; of pronotum, 4-2mm. ^ , 4'5mm. ? ; of 

 posterior femora, 18mm. g , 20mm. $ ; of ovipositor, 9mm. $ . 



Chiefly a native of eastern Europe, but it occurs in northern 

 Switzerland, and also in the Pyrenees at Bagneres de Luchon, Bagneres,. 



