MORGAN HEBARD 151 



distal portion of the male cerci appears less triangular than in 

 the other races, the dorso-proximal portion and apex being less 

 sharply rounded. The dorsal lobes of the penis in the delicate 

 apical produced portion normally lie between the sharp erect 

 apices of the ectoparameres and curve about them forming a 

 cephalic and caudal lobation of equal size. Each series shows 

 some variation in one or both of these features and, were the 

 species not evidently so plastic, racial separation might in several 

 cases have appeared advisable. 



Melanoplus ascensus validus Scudder (PI. X, fig. 3.) 



1899. Melanoplus validus Scudder, (in part), Proc. Davenport Acad. Nat. 



Sci., vii, p. 197. [ $ , 2 ; Grants Pass (type locality) and Glendale 



(atypic), Oregon. 4 ] 

 1899. Melanoplus debilis Scudder, Proc. Davenport Acad. Nat. Sci., vii, p. 



201. [$, 9- ; Ashland (type locality) and Siskiyou (atypic), Oregon.] 



Study of the paratj^pes of ascensus, validus and debilis in the 

 author's collection and the series now at hand shows beyond 

 question not only that validus can not be given higher than racial 

 status but that debilis is a synonym. Scudder separated the 

 latter mainly on size, color and the absence of minute furcula. 

 The first two features have no diagnostic significance and very 

 minute furcula are present in the paratypic male of debilis be- 

 fore me. 



In ascensus validus the caudal tibiae are often glaucous (rich 

 or weak) or pink (to coral red) in the same sex in the same series. 

 The caudal femora vary in intensity of color pattern to the same 

 degree as in ascensus ascensus. 



The following material is before me. 



Oregon : Glendale, 15 $ , 9 $ , 1 juv. 9- (slightly atypical toward ascensus 

 ascensus) . Grants Pass, 1 $ . Medford, 1 $ . Ashland, 2 $ , 1 $ . Siskiyou, 

 32$, 24$, (slightly atypical toward ascensus ascensus). 



The Glendale series shows divergence toward ascensus ascensus 

 only in the form of the male cerci while such is true for the 

 Siskiyou series only in the form of the penis. 



4 Scudder also originally included material of saltator from Portland, 

 Corvallis and Philomath and of the subsequently described ascensus cala- 

 pooyae from Divide, Drain and Roseburg. 



TRANS. AMER. ENT. SOC., LXIII. 



