116 THE ZOOLOGIST. 
(Raniceps trifwreus), measuring barely 24 in. in length. The little 
fellow was brought to me by a shrimp-lad, whom I had commissioned 
to bring some clear sea-water from outside in a big beer-bottle. 
The boy knew the fish as a ‘“‘ Toad-fish,” a by no means inappropriate 
nickname, for it is a thick-set, blackish, ugly creature. I have before 
received examples of this species (cf. Zool. 1897, p. 554). — ARTHUR 
H. Patrrerson (Ibis House, Great Yarmouth). 
INSECTA. 
Introduced Orthoptera.—The Orthoptera and Neuroptera are the 
least numerous of the principal orders of insects, but while the latter 
are fairly well represented in Britain, the poverty of our orthopterous 
fauna is quite astounding. In 1882 Brunner von Wattenwyl pub- 
lished his Prodromus of European Orthoptera, in which he enume- 
rated four hundred and sixty-three species ; but Mr. Malcolm Burr, in 
his useful little book on British Orthoptera, enumerates only fifty- 
three, of which at least seventeen must be regarded as either natura- 
lized species or merely casual visitors, thus reducing the total of our 
actually indigenous species to less than forty. However, Orthoptera 
are hardy creatures, not always very particular about their food, and 
are easily carried from one country to another with merchandise, and 
consequently may be carried to and even naturalised in countries very 
distant from their original locality. Not only South Huropean, but 
African, Oriental, and American species are frequently found in 
England, sometimes in houses in the heart of London, and some- 
times in gardens, especially Kew Gardens. This applies specially to 
Blattide (Cockroaches), of which we have probably only three in- 
digenous species, though the German, Oriental, American, and 
Australian Cockroach are all now thoroughly naturalized, and the 
Madeiran, Surinam, and Drummer Cockroaches are occasionally met 
with in single specimens. Two of the prettiest of these casual 
visitors are the bright green species of the genus Panchlora, which 
are often brought over among bananas, and a black species with 
yellow markings (Dorylea rhombifolia), common in Africa and the 
East Indies, which has lately been taken in one or two places in 
London. Other interesting imported species are Acridium egyptium, 
a very large Locust with transparent hind wings, marked with a 
broad curved black band, which is often brought with fruits and vege- 
tables from the shores of the Mediterranean; a very curious brown 
Japanese Grasshopper, resembling a Cricket, with legs with very long 
