STATE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
405 
GRAPE. LEAVES. 
genus is of a conic form and narrower towards the head than at 
the opposite end, and Serville repeats this, as being one of the 
most prominent characters whereby the insects of this genus may 
be distinguished. But, as we shall see, the form of the thorax 
varies greatly with the species, and approaches a conic form in 
only one of our American flower crickets. The other marks, 
however, which we have stated above, will suffice for readily dis¬ 
tinguishing the insects of this genus. 
In their habits they also differ remarkably from other crickets. 
The observation of Latreille, that they dwell upon plants and are 
pleased with flowers, applies with considerable exactness to our 
American species, which may be met with in autumn quite com¬ 
mon upon the flowers of the golden rod (Solidago), and in August 
I have noticed them on rose bushes, several individuals being 
sometimes seen on one bush. It was from this statement of 
Latreille that Serville gave the generic name Qkanthus to these 
insects, this name being formed from two Greek words, implying 
“ I dwell in flowers.” But any situation where the foliage is 
dense, furnishing them a cool shady hiding place, appears to be 
what they particularly desire, as they occur quite frequently on 
grape vines, on young oaks and other bushes, where no flowers 
are near them. All other crickets it will be recollected reside 
upon the ground, in holes under stones, and similar situations. 
And it has been noticed of these insects and their kindred, that 
a peculiarity in the structure of their feet appeared to be essen¬ 
tial to adapt them for the situations in which they reside — the 
catydids and other insects which dwell upon shrubbery having 
soft flat cushion-like soles to their feet, to enable them to cling to 
the stalks and leaves of plants, whilst in the crickets and other 
insects which reside upon the ground no such structure exists, 
(Westwood, Introd. i, 441.) The flower crickets, however, appear 
to present an exception to this rule. They always reside upon 
plants, elevated from the ground, and yet the under sides of their 
feet are simple and merely covered densely with bristles, like 
those of other crickets. But perhaps this is no just exception to 
the rule stated. Though they dwell on plants, they do not 
travel about upon them, but remain stationary, each one in 
his own chosen abode, day after day. So I infer, from having 
