272 GEOLOGICAL SURVEY OF THE TERRITORIES. 



time in alcohol these colors fade, and all distinctions between the two 

 arc lost. 



BOOPEDON, (THOS.) 



Generic characters: Has somewhat the appearance of Pezotettix. 

 Body robust. Head large, exceeding the thorax in width, widest below ; 

 seen from the side presents a somewhat semicircular outline, deflexed 

 below; occiput convex; vertex sloping, broad, sometimes exhibiting a 

 shallow foveola, usually rhomboiclal, with a slight median carina; frontal 

 ridge prominent, not sulcate, margins obtuse and nearly parallel. An- 

 tennae nearly as long as the head and thorax, inserted in deep, oblong 

 foveolse. Pronotum of medium length, sides parallel; subtruncate in 

 front; posterior angle obtuse ; three transverse incisions; the posterior 

 about the middle, cutting the median carina ; median carina distinct, but 

 not elevated ; lateral carinas obsolete. Elytra shorter than the abdomen 

 in the female, about the length of the abdomen in the male ; inflated 

 near the base, narrowed at the apex ; two longitudinal veins dividing 

 the entire surface into three nearly equal fields. Posterior femora stout, 

 narrowed at the tip, passing the abdomen;- tibia spined, enlarged at 

 the tip. Ultimate joint of the maxillary palpi enlarged at the end, 

 truncate. Presternum with the anterior half tumid ; the latter half 

 cleft by a longitudinal sulcus. Pectus sub-convex or flat. Anal ap- 

 pendages of the female short and obtuse ; sub-anal plate of the male 

 keeled, trigonal, and turned up. 



This is a very distinct genus, having a somewhat acridoid appearance, 

 and forming, perhaps, the closest link between the Mucronati (Acridii 

 genuini) and the Mutici, (or Odipodes,) and in a strictly natural arrange- 

 ment should precede Bracliypeplus. It would connect between the 

 Pezotettigi or Calopteni and the IStenobotliri. 



B. mibihim, Thos. Syn., B. nigrum, Thos. (Proc. Acad. Nat. Sci., 

 Phila., 1870, p. S3.) 



Gryllus nitbilus, Say. (Jour. Acad. Nat. Sci., Phila., IV, 308. Entom. 

 E". Am., Ed. Le Conte, II, 237.) — Having carefully examined the section 

 where Mr. Say found his species, I do not know what insect he refers to, 

 unless this be the one. But when he remarks " that it ascends into the 

 atmosphere in great numbers," he certainly cannot allude to this species, 

 unless he refers to the short flights of the males as they poise themselves 

 in the air, a well-known habit of the Oe. cequalis, and some other species. 

 There is another black species found in the same section, which flies 

 much in the air, (Tomonotus Nietanus. Sauss.,) but its bright red wings, 

 so apparent during flight, and its ample elytra, would seem to forbid 

 the supposition that this was the species intended. Yet I cannot ex- 

 plain Mr. Say's remark, unless he has confounded the two. 



As his description is rather short I will add some other points, chiefly 

 from my description, under the name of B. nigrum, in the Proc. Acad. Nat. 

 Sci., Phila. 



Medium size, female much larger than the male. 



Female : Occiput smooth, a few punctures on the vertex, a faint median 

 line visible ; eyes about midway between the front and back margins ; 

 frontal ridge convex, with a very slight indentation at the ocellus, punc- 

 tured on the margins, reaching nearly to the cross suture, where it sud- 

 denly expands; lateral carina? distinct, obtuse, sinuate and divergent; 

 a deep sulcus below each eye. Pronotum nearly as broad as the head ; 

 median carina distinct, straight ; posterior lobe punctate ; central por- 

 tions of the sides levigate; cross incisions one and two not reaching the 

 median carina. Elytra narrow, covering about two-thirds the length of 



