340 ORTHOPTERA OF NOVA SCOTIA. — PIERS. 



femoral markings more decided than males; thus frequently 

 in the same series the males will show the ventro-proximal 

 portion of the hind femora varying between being briefly 

 and widely marked with reddish, and the wing-covers en- 

 tirely black, while the females will on an average show a 

 wide reddish patch on that part of the femora, the wing- 

 covers being dark with the intermediate channel pale. By 

 "small" the authors appear to mean body-lengths from about 

 17 to 20 mm., and by "medium" those from about 20 to 23 

 mm. 



Characters op Some of the More Prominent Variants of Gryllus.* 

 (Compiled from Rehn and Hebard.) 



negledus Scudder. — Head and pronotum black; caudal femora black; tegmina 

 normally unicolorous and dark; tegmina slightly reduced, wings very much 

 reduced; size small. — This is the darkest variant of the present species 

 {assimilis), the maximum development of the condition seen also in 

 the two following variants. Found in the northeastern portion of the insect's 

 distribution, ranging southward in the high Appalachians to northern 

 Georgia, and is known from the Piedmont Plateau only in Pennsylvania. 

 Much variability exists and every intergradation with the next two 

 variants is often to be found in the same series. 



pennsylvanicus Burmeister (other names: nigra Harris, angustus Scudder). — 

 Head and pronotum black; caudal femora black, with ventro-proximal 

 portion briefly reddish; tegmina normally unicolorous and dark, or 

 else dark with intermediate channel pale, but also ranging through 

 unicolorous and slightly pale, to slightly pale with base and intermediate 

 channel very pale; tegmina slightly reduced, and wings very much re- 

 duced, but tegmina often large and wings fully-developed organs of 

 flight; size medium.— This is the dominant variant of the species in 

 well-watered regions of temperate North America and is found southward 

 to the Gulf coast of eastern Texas. Great variability is exhibited and 

 every intergradation exists with the variants termed negledus and 

 lucluosus. 



luduosus Serville (other name: ahhreviatus Serville). — Head and pronotum 

 black; caudal femora black, with ventro-proximal portion widch' reddish; 

 tegmina normally unicolorous and slightly pale, but ranging from uni- 

 coUjrous and dark, through various gradations, to slightlj' pale with base 

 and intermediate channel very pale; tegmina slightly reduced and wings 

 much reduced and concealed by tegmina, but tegmina often large and 

 wings fully-developed organs of flight; size medium. — This variant shows 

 an intensification of the features of the last. It is found throughout 

 the lowlands of the southeastern United States and in the Middle WeSt 

 from Manitoba southward to the arid regions. It also exhibits great 

 variability. The maximum of this condition is found in material from 

 the pine woods of the southeastern United States. 



*It must bp reme^ll)f•^((rl tliat Rcliti ;in!l Ili^ljjinJ disfauragp altogether the use of names 

 to designate these so-called variants, in forms which they say so completely intergrade. 



