1890.] 171 



iii.— GRYLLUS, Linne. 

 Brunner includes this genus, together with Nemohius and four 

 other genera (unrepresented here), in the tribe of Gryllidce. The 

 thickened posterior femora and more simply spined posterior tibia? 

 separate the tribe from the (EcanthidcB, and GryUotalpa is at once 

 recognised by its large size and peculiar fore-legs. The chief charac- 

 ters which distinguish Gryllus from Nemohius are the strong fixed 

 spines of the posterior tibiae, and the sulcate and serrate first tarsal 

 joint, and as far as British specimens go, they are of much lai'ger size. 

 The following enumeration of the chief characters of the genus will 

 save repetition in the descriptions of the two species. 



Head obtuse, transverse, with the space between the antennse twice the breadtli 

 of the first antennal joint. Sutures sometimes pale. Eyes not prominent. Ocelli 

 arranged in a triangle, which is sometimes {G. campestris) so flattened as to be 

 almost a straight line. Pronotum hairy, transverse, depressed, emarginate, with 

 the posterior border slightly curved ; lateral lobes longer than deep, deeper in 

 front than behind, inferior border with the anterior angle right, posterior angle 

 rounded obtusely and surrounded by a lamelliform extension. Elytra fully de- 

 veloped, flat above ; harpa with three to four oblique wavy lines ; speculum with a 

 curved line. Wings arranged in folds. Posterior femora robust, compressed, in- 

 ferior border laminate. Anterior tibiaj with a long, oval, external auditory foramen 

 (tympanum) behind (on the outer side), and a small round one in front (on the 

 inner side). Posterior tibiae shorter than the femora, above in either border with 

 four to six strong fixed spines in addition to the apical spines. Apical spines six 

 (three on either side), and of those on the internal side the lowest is the shortest. 

 First joint of the posterior tarsi sulcate above, with a row of short spines in either 

 margin ; second joint very short. Supra-anal plate in both sexes elongate, rounded. 

 Cerci long, hairy. Sub-genital lamina in ^ subacuminate, compressed, in $ short, 

 compressed. Ovipositor straight, longer than the abdomen, lanceolate at the apex. 



Table of Species. 



1 (2) Head very black, with no pale bands or lines. Ocelli arranged in a scarcely 



curved line 1. campestris, Jj. 



2 (1) Head with pale bands and markings. Ocelli arranged in a triangle .. 



2. domesticus, L. 



1. — Getlltjs campestris, Linne. 



Gryllus campestris, Linne, Mus. Lud. Ulr., p. 124, Syst. Nat., ii, p. 



695; Fischer, Orth. Eur, p. 178; Brunner, Prod, der Eur. 



Orth., p. 128. 

 Acheia campestris, Fabricius, Ent. Syst., p. 281 ; Stephens, Mandib., 



vi, p. 39. 



Large size, robust, colour generally black. Head large, rounded, broader than 

 the pronotum. Ocelli in a slightly curved line, the median very little below a line 



