296 ORTHOPTERA OF NOVA SCOTIA. PIERS. 



may refer to a somewhat similar increase in numbers in 

 Nova Scotia proper. There can be no doubt that this 

 species, wherever found, must be watched as a suspected 

 heredit0.ry criminal, whose latent destructive propensities 

 may break forth . whenever conditions are favorable for 

 abnormal multiplication, whereby it is endowed with immense 

 collective power for ill-doing. 



As to preventive measures, Somes (Acridiidae of Minne- 

 sota, 1914) recommends as a real cure for these pests a 

 thorough method of cultivation of the land, with a rotation 

 system in which a thoroughly cultivated crop shall always 

 follow cereals; although temporary relief may be obtained 

 by spraying with sodium-arsenite, and the use of hopper- 

 dozers. No doubt the poison bait and deep ploughing as 

 recommended under M. femur-ruhruni would be better suited 

 to conditions in Nova Scotia. 



16. [Melanoplus fasciatus (Barnston-Walker). Hypo- 

 thetical occurrence.! 



Description. — Size medium. Wing-covers in the usual short-winged 

 form (sometimes called curtus) much shorter (length about 10 mm.) than 

 the abdomen (covering about three-fourths in male, and about one-half in 

 female) and from 1J4 to 2^ times as long as the pronotum, their form lanceo- 

 late, the inner edges overlapping. Subgenital plate of male distinctly nar- 

 rower than long, its extremity strongly elevated; cerci of male nearly straight, 

 slightly expanded at apex, the middle but little narrower than extreme base; 

 furcula of male short, no longer than last abdominal segment to which it is 

 attached. 



Colour. — Variable; dark reddish-brown to dark olivaceoue-gray or 

 grayish-brown, the male darker; below yellow. A well-marked blackish band 

 from behind eye along upper part of side of anterior part (prozona) of pro- 

 notum. Wing-covers reddish-brown, often with a few small dark spots on 

 median area. Hind femora brownish-yellow, the outer face with two broad, 

 oblique, blackish bars, the lower face reddish, knees black; hind tibiae red or 

 greenish, paler near base, spines black 



Measurements. — Male: body, 16-19 mm.; antenna, 8-9 mm.; pronotum, 

 4.5 mm.; wing-covers, 7.5-10 mm. (form curtus); hind femora, 10 mm. 

 Female: body, 17-25 mm.; antennae, 7-8 mm.; pronotum, 5mm.; wing-covers, 

 8-12 mm. (form c^lrtus)•, hind femora, 11-15 mm. In the very rare long- 

 winged form, volnticus, the wing-covers measure about 17 mm. In the 

 Magdalen Islands, Dr. E. M. Walker (B. Long coll.) rei)orts large specimens, 

 the males of which vary in length of body from 19-23 mm.; wing-covers, 11-14 

 mm.; hind femora, 11. .5-12. 5 mm.; and the females, body, 24.5-28.5 mm.; 

 wing-covers, 6.5-19.5 mm.; hind femora, 12.5-13.5 mm. The Newfoundland 

 specimens are also very robust for the species, and do not show the brilliant 

 type of coloration sometimes found. 



