ORTHOPTERA OF NOVA SCOTIA. — PIERS. 271 



less rare than supposed. It should be looked for unioiig 

 the stems of tall grasses and sedges in low, boggy ground. 

 The male is shy and difficult to approach, and is active, 

 flying rapidly and noiselessly; while the female is more 

 sluggish and secretive. It probably occurs in the mature 

 state from about the latter part of July to near the end o^ 

 October, the Lawrencetown date of 25 Oct. being no doubt 

 representative of the very last days of its existence. 



9. Mecostethus gracilis (Scudder). 



Mecostethus gracilis. Piers, Trans. N. S. Inst. Sc, ix 

 215 (1896); Halifax and Cow Bay (Hx. Co.).— 

 Gooderham, Proc. Ent. Soc. N. S. for 1916, 25, 27 

 (1917); Col.. Kings, and Yar. Cos. 



Description. — This, like M. lineritus, is a handsome species, with trim 

 lines and pleasing colouration, the dash of light red on the femora giving 

 it a jaunty, attractive appearance. In general description it very closely 

 resembles M. lineatus, except that the intercalarj' vein of the male wing-cover 

 has sharp, elevated, minute, closely-set teeth. 



Colour. — In colour also it fairly well resembles M. lineatus, except that 

 the scapular area of the wing-cover is without the pale yellow streak which is 

 80 noticeable in that species. The hind femora of gracilis are yellowish with 

 some small brownish markings, and the apex black with a yellow line on 

 top; the lower edge of the hind femora is a striking, bright red. Hind tibiae 

 yellow with a black annulation at base and another on the basal third, the 

 apex being dusky. Fore and middle legs yellowish. It may very readily 

 be separated from M. lineatus bj' the absence of a pale yellow streak along 

 the scapular area of the wing-covers. 



Measurements. — Nova Scotian specimens. Male: body, 21 mm. ;wing- 

 covers, 20-20.5 mm.; hind femora, 14.5-15 mm.; hind tibiae, 12.5-13.7 mm.; 

 antennae, 11 mm. 



Range. — Northernmost United States and southern Canada, ea.st of 

 about long. 100°: has been reported from southern Nfld., Nova Scotia, 

 P. E. Island, Maine, New Hamp., Mass. (northern and elevated parts of 

 New Eng. from summits of White Mtns. to Berkshire Hills), Ont., Man., 

 Sask., Alb., New Jers., Minn., Nebr., and Dak. Chiefly confined to the 

 Canadian and Transition Zones. Its distribution to the south seems somewhat 

 irregular. 



Occurrence in Nova Scotia. — This species was first recorded 

 from Nova Scotia by the present writer in 1896, and it was 

 the first record for Canada exclusive of Scudder's original 

 (1862) record for Manitoba. On 26 Aug. 1912, Bayard Long 

 collected one male at Dundee in northern Prince Edward 

 Island, and so extended its eastern range northward (Walker, 



