29 
at the base, above, arc narrow and Blender. The cerr-i arc somewhal longer 
than the width of the preceding segment, are broad and ilat throughout, tIm- width 
equalling two-thirds the length, not suddenly narrowed or constricted, moderately 
curved upwards and inwards; roundly narrowed and depressed at the apex. The 
prosternal spine (in both sexes is subquadrate and Large at the base, but distinctly 
transverse; robust and decidly conical, gradually lessening to a blunt point. 
Dimensions: Length of body— male, 22-24 mm , female, 25-2*3 
of tegmina — male 
24-26""", female, 25-27 mm ; of hind femora— male 12 mm , female, 14 mm . 
THE LESSER MIGRATORY LOCUST. 
(Melanoplus atlanis Riley.) 
Next to Melanoplus spretus this is the most destructive of our North 
American locusts. It is the bisect that has been known to devastate 
portions of the New England States at various times during the past 
hundred years. It has also been known to occur in destructive num- 
bers in various parts of the interior, but chiefly northward. 
This Lesser Migratory Locust, as the name implies, is somewhat 
smaller than spretus, to which it is much more closely related than to 
any of the other destructive locusts described in the present paper. It 
is to be distinguished from that species by such characters as are shown 
in Fig. 14; and also by its proportionately shorter and narrower wings. 
Fig. 14. — Mekmoplus atlanis : anal characters of male; o, from above; b, from side; c, from behind, 
enlarged six times (after Emerton). 
As is also Implied in its name, it is migratory in habit, but to a much 
less degree than is spretus. Iii its distribution atlanis enjoys a much 
greater range than does the preceding, and for that matter, perhaps, 
than any other of our North American locusts, unless it be the femur- 
rubrum. While it occurs over such an extended territory, it appears 
to be more partial to hilly or mountainous regions rather than elsewhere. 
It seems also to prefer a wooded or mixed country to the open prairie 
or plains. It is common in all suitable localities from the Mexican 
boundary to the XU\ degree of north latitude, and even beyond — in 
some instances nearly reaching the Arctic Circle— while it occurs both 
along the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. 
The following original description, along with the illustrations referred 
to above, will at once enable the readers to distinguish the species from 
all others of our North American insects of this family: 
At once distinguished from femur-rvbrum by the notched character of the anal ab- 
dominal joint of the male and by the Bhortex, !<•» tapering oerci ; also by the greater 
