GENERIC NOMENCLATURE. 37 



portion pale, either yellowish or white, even when the tibiae are black. 

 Posterior femora long, reaching to the tip of the abdomen, moderately 

 robust, the outer face flat. 



The species, with one exception, are large, the females exceeding two 

 inches in length ; the exception, ritbiginosum, is rare in the West, and so 

 far has not been found west of the Mississippi. We have omitted A, 

 frontalis Tlios., as it does not properly belong to this genus, having 

 been placed here by the author provisionally. As it is green, there is 

 no danger of its being confounded with (7. spretus. To this genus be- 

 longs A. americanumy a large reddish-brown species, marked on the 

 outer wings with cellular quadrate fuscous spots, which often does con- 

 siderable injury to crops in the sections south of the latitude of Saint 

 Louis, which is nearly its northern limit. In 1875 and 1876, and even in 

 1877, it was seen migrating in considerable numbers, causing much 

 alarm, as those who saw them supposed they were veritable Eocky 

 Mountain locusts. Such flights were observed in Southeast Indiana, 

 Southwest Ohio, Southern Illinois, and Georgia. These flights are very 

 limited in extent, reaching at farthest but a mile or two. Their large 

 size, coloring, generic characters, and southern habitats will readily 

 distiugush them from the C. spretus. We may remark here that one of 

 the most destructive migratory species of Southwestern Asia and 

 ^Northern Africa {Acriclium peregrinum) is not only congeneric with this 

 species, but so closely resembles it that ordinary observation would 

 scarcely detect the differences between the two. 



As before stated, the characters by which the genus Fezotettix is dis- 

 tinguished are not satisfactory, and undoubtedly require revision, but 

 in this country the abbreviation or want of wings has generally been 

 adopted as a leading character, which, whether well-chosen or not, is 

 sufficient to distinguish its species from C. spretus, which answers our 

 j)resent purpose. This limits us to the genus Caloptenus^ and the species 

 belonging to it which are found north of Mexico. 



As before intimated. Dr. Stal, of Sweden, in his recent work on 

 Orthoptera (Recensio OrtJwpterorum), has so modified the characters of 

 Caloptenus (if we admit his CalUptenus as a synonym) and PezotettiXy 

 that none of our species which have heretofore been placed in the 

 former can be retained, some, as G. femur ritbritm^ C.spretus, and closely 

 allied species being referred to a subdivision of the latter genus named 

 by the author MeJanoplus, He emends the CalUptamMS of Serville to 

 CalUptenus. 



If this change is followed, it will add to the confusion of the nomen- 

 clature of this group, inflicting on it a host of synonyms where they 

 are already too numerous. If the rule in relation priority require this 

 change, then we might be disposed to submit to it and adopt it, other- 

 wise we prefer to retain those names which by long usage and general 

 acceptance have been woven into all of our entomological and other 

 writings where the insects of this group are mentioned. Let us then 



