370 NEW NORTH AMERICAN MELANOPLI (ORTHOPTERA) 



New Mexico: Dripping Spring, Organ Mountains, (J. Mendozas; T. D. 

 Cockerell), 2^,1 9, [Mus. Comp. Zool. and Hebard Cln.]. Filmore Can- 

 yon, Organ Mountains, 5700 feet, IX, 9, (C. H. T. Townsend), 1 9 , [U. S. 

 N. M.]. Florida Mountains, (H. A. Pilsbry), 1 9 , [A. N. S. P.]. 



In the Chisos Mountains the species was found in moderate 

 numbers wherever scrub brush occurred. The steep northern 

 slope of Lost Mine Peak, at from 5500 to 6500 feet, was the only 

 place where individuals were very abundant. Immature indi- 

 viduals were frequent, though it was early September and the 

 season well advanced. In the Davis Mountains, a few days 

 earlier, occasional immature examples alone were encountered, 

 in heavy weeds on the upper edges of meadow areas reaching up 

 to 8200 feet on Livermore Peak. 



At Sanderson one specimen was secured in low grasses and 

 plants in the dry bed of a stream, while another was taken on 

 the adjacent slopes at 2900 feet. This was the nearest approach 

 to desert conditions in which the species was found. 



Melanoplus tunicae 17 new species (Plate XVIII, Figs. 3 and 4.) 



We place this species last in the Ponderosus Group, preceded 

 by M. ponderosus viola (Thomas) 18 (plate XVIII, fig. 5). From 

 that insect it differs in its slightly more slender form, average 

 longer tegmina, usually somewhat more solid coloration and dis- 

 tinctive male cerci. 



The species is apparently widely distributed over the lower 

 Mississippi Valley, south and east of the known distribution of 

 p. viola. Both these insects, however, are apparently very local, 

 being found only in the scant undergrowth of lofty deciduous 

 forests and particularly those growing on low flat ground. This 

 fact probably explains the reason why the present large species 

 has until now remained unknown. In the obscurity of its favor- 

 ite environment it is difficult to locate, and often, when apparent- 

 ly very scarce, close and exhaustive search over limited but 

 selected areas resulted in securing a fairly large series. 



17 The Tunica, a tribe of friendly Indians, are prominent in early French 

 history of the lower Mississippi, in which region the present insect is found. 



18 Blatchley (Orth. N. E. Amer., p. 406, 1920) has considered viola "the 

 short-winged form" of M. -ponderosus Scudder. We find viola to be a geo- 

 graphic race of ponderosus, which is clearly defined over an extensive area of 

 distribution. Various intermediate conditions between ponderosus ponder- 

 osus and ponderosus viola are found in all of Louisiana but the southeastern 

 portion, and through the humid strip of eastern Texas. 



