430 BULLETIN UNITED STATES GEOLOGICAL SURVEY. 



lateral margins oblique, with the edges recurved and the submargin 

 depressed 5 the latero-posterior angles overlapping the base of the 

 scutellum. Xyphus of the prosternum short, triangular ; the prosternum 

 short, projecting backward, like a lid, over the base of the anterior coxoe; 

 the propleura with a roundish pit beyond the anterior angle of the pro- 

 sternum. Mesosteruum grooved, with the coxae placed moderately close 

 together. Metasternum deep-seated, the coxse in contact at the base. 

 Scutellum triangular, with the sides almost equal. Membrane with 

 looped nervules, forming a transverse series of long areoles. Last 

 ventral segment scale-like in the female, moderately short, rounded 

 behind. Posterior coxae very broad, free, formed for leaping; the pos- 

 terior trochanters very long, acute, placed on the inner side of the base 

 of femora ; the posterior femora and tibiae much longer than the others. 

 The posterior legs are thrown very far back by reason of the very 

 large and long coxae, and, together with the long femora and tibiae, give 

 them a great facility in vaulting into the air. They use their wings in 

 connection with this motion, and generally alight several feet from the 

 point of departure. Their motion in running over the ground is often 

 sinuous, while rapid, and their selective adherence to the spots which 

 best agree with their combination of colors may well shield them from 

 the pursuit of enemies. Only one genus has thus far been reported from 

 North America; but groups of characters may readily be found sufifi- 

 cient to divide it into several genera. 



Salda Fab. (auctor.) 



Oval, ovate, or elliptical. Head vertical, or nearly so, contracted 

 behind the eyes, the eyes reniform and very projecting outward; tylus 

 thick, prominent, cylindrical; the upper cheeks short, obtuse, and 

 the lower cheeks long, wide, and partly embracing the base of the 

 rostrum. Ocelli large, central, placed near together. Rostrum reach- 

 ing to or behind the intermediate coxae ; the first joint very short, the 

 second very long. Antennae long ; basal joint shortest, more or less 

 thickened toward the tip ; second very long, thickened at tip ; third and 

 fourth subequal, longer than the basal one. Pronotum trapeziform, the 

 sides oblique ; callosities large, transverse, convex, strongly bounded by 

 impressions on the sides and behind ; anterior part, next the head, more 

 or less constricted; the lateral submargins depressed; posterior margin 

 concave, with the humeral angles more or less produced. Hemelytrae 

 oval, the costal margin arcuated, the edge carinate, and the costal area 

 foliated, particularly at base. Legs all of the same form, the posterior 

 ones longest ; tarsi, first joint very short, second longer than, or sub- 

 equal to, the third ; the claws slender, very long, curved. Prosternum 

 quadrately cut out to fit over the coxae, the xyphus triangular ; meso- 

 sternum narrow, grooved; metasternum hidden by the coxae, deep-seated, 

 in the middle convexly elevated ; connexivum of the tergum forming a 

 broad, flat rim, sharply separated from the disk. Genital segment of 

 the male much longer than that of the female. 



