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Psyche 7:53-54, 1894.

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March 1894.1 I'sYcHA?. 53
WING-LENGTH IN SOME NEW ENGLAND ACRID1DAE.-11. BY ALBERT P. MORSE, WELLESLEY, MASS.
Turning to another subfamily, the
Acridinae, we find a genus-Melano-
-plus-in which the wing-length is
perhaps as good a character as exists
for separating the females of certain New England species; e, g., M collinus
from M femur-rubrum, M. rectus*
from M. minor,
Yet here, on the other hand, we
meet a species, M. junius Dodge,
presenting great variation in this partic- ular. Some of the females possess
wings and tegmina extending but two-
thirds down the femora : others
show
them passing the end of the femur by
nearly a fourth of its length. In the
males they are somewhat less variable,
and longer proportionally.
It is to be
noted, in connection with the brevity of wings in many specimens, that this
species is of a sluggish disposition and progresses largely by leaping.
It is also interesting to observe, in the cases of two abortive-winged species
of this subfamily--MeZano/Zus rectus
From an examination of the limited material (con. sisting mainly of the types) in thecollections of Mr. Scudder and the Museum of Comparative Zoology and the comparison with these of a relatively large series of specimens taken in Mass., together with a few from Speckled Mt., Me., I see no reason to think that Stelanoplus rectus Scudd. is other than Pesofettix borealis Scudd. I use the latter name here for convenience. Mr. Scudder has himself stated the prob- ability that Pi borealis is P, septmtrionalis Sauss. I
would suggest in this connection that Melanofluscurfus Scudd., from 5000 ft. elevation, Colorado, is likely to prove the same species as M. recfus.
(= Pez. borealis) and Pezotettix mama
-how the lack of available flight-organs is compensated by the alertnebs of the
insects, an extremely swift movement of
the hand being necessary to effect their capture.
Sharply marked off from the other
members of the family by characters of
much interest here are the little "grouse locusts"-Tettiginae. In these the
wing-covers are reduced to minute
proportions, while the dorsal part of
the pronotum has been correspondingly
developed to
supply their place as a
covering and protection for the delicate wings. The efficiency of the wings as
flight-organs in those forms in which
they are fully developed is unimpaired
by the brevity of the tegmina for the
reason that the costal border of the
wings has become considerably chitin-
ized; when closed this portion also
affords some protection on the sides
below the pronotal process.
Here, then, is an opportunity to
observe if in the case of variation in
length of wings there be a corresponding variation not in length of wing-covers,
which are here functionless as such, but in the length of that structure which
serves the purpose of tegmina-the dor-
sal part of the pronotum.
Among the eight forms occurring in
New England there are three cases in
which two are separated merely on this




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[March 1894.
character of length of pronotum and
wings.
Take first the species called Batra-
chidea cyistata: here the wings are
so small as to be quite functionless and the pronotum merely covers the body,
often failing to reach the tip of femora. Compare with it the form described as
23. carinata : in this the wings are large and amply sufficient for flight and the
pronotum correspondingly developed
posteriorly to afford them protection
when closed. Owing to the high median
carina on the anterior portion this back- ward prolongation of the tip of the
pronotum gives an apparently turned-up
appearance to its profile. B. carinata
is found associated with B. cristata but is quite rare- but one or two specimens
occurring in the hundred, and I have no
doubt that this is but another case of
reversion and should be so ranked.
Compare the two forms known as
Tettigidea 'polymoy'pha and T. Zater-
alis: the one has small wings and
abbreviated pronotum, the other large
wings and pronotum of ordinary length,
noticeably passing the femora. These
forms are about equally common and
are usually found associated.*
Compare the forms known as Tettix
ornatus Say and T. triangularis
* Since the above was written Mr. W. S. Blatchley of Terre Haute, Ind., has informed me by letter that he has taken many pairs of the two forms of Tettigidea in copulation and has never seen lateralis crossed with polymorpha, and in consequence considers them dis- tinct species. It is perhaps best to retain them as such, temporarily, at least. There is a good opportunity here for some thorough, painstaking person to conduct scientific breeding experiments with these interesting little locusts and thereby to add materially to our knowledge of the relationship of the different forms. Scudd.
Here again, the only apparent
difference is in the extent of pronotum
and length of wings, structures which in this subfamily are undoubtedly interde-
pendent, as is shown by individuals of
other species of this genus, while the
characters presented by the vertex and
eyes, which offer a safe and ready means of separating these forms from the other New England species, are the same.
In view of these facts I believe them to be forms of one species. These, also,
are nearly always found associated, the
short-winged form being somewhat less
common.
While I have not had opportunity to
study critically so large a series of speci- mens as is desirable I feel reasonably
certain that the number of species of
Tettiginae found in New England should
be reduced to five, as follows :
I. Tettixgranulatus Kirby.
2. Tettix omatus Say and T. tri-
angularis Scudd.
3. Tettix cucullatus Burm.
4. Batrachidea cristata Harris and
23. carinata Scudd.
5. Tettiyidea lateralis Say and T.
folymor$h Burm.
Variation in wing-length seems to be
less proportionally in T. cucullatus and T. granulatus than in T. ornatus
though it may be very noticeable in
specimens ofgranulatus even from the
same locality. Such seems to be the
case, also, in regard to its constancy in certain species of Melano'plas found in
New England, as noted above.
While the fact of association of the
two forms in the several cases mentioned is no evidence of their identity, it does



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March 1S94.1 PSYCHE.
not contradict this view of their relation as would the fact of non-association.
In summing up the evidence which
I have cited it would seem that : (I)
Variations in length of wings are cor-
related with corresponding variations in length of tegmina or anaZogous struc-
tures. (2) In one species of a genus
these parts may be quite constant in
their proportions to other parts of the
body, and in another may vary greatly.
(3) Consequently, a difference in length of wing or interdependent structure un-
accompanied by a difference in struc-
ture of other parts of the body is but
more or less doubtful evidence of
specific distinctness.
Large series of specimens from a
wide range of country are not only desir- able but necessary in order to arrive at a correct understanding of the relation
of closely allied forms. Personally, I
have found that wide acquaintance in
the field with the various forms has
been of great service.
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CLUB.
13 Oct., 1893.
The 180th meeting was
held at 156 Brattle St., Mr. S. Henshaw in the chair. Mr. A. P. Morse was chosen Sec- retary pro tern.
Mr. Lewis E. Hood of Somerville was
elected to active membership.
Mr. S. H. Scudder showed some larvae of
a Crambid from Plymouth Co., Mass., which injures cranberry vines by girdling the
runners and rootlets. He also discussed the identity of some unknown "book-worms"
which had caused damage in a library, sug- gesting the possibility of termites and Lepis- midae. Mr. Henshaw suggested that some
Ptinid or Tomicus might be concerned.
Mr. A. P. Morse showed a larva of Lima-
codes scapha found on beech, its color and angular form suggesting the possibility of protective resemblance to a green beech- fruit. He also read a short paper entitled "Notes on the Orthoptera of Penikese and Cuttyhunk Islands."
Messrs. Scudder and Morse expressed the
opinion that Melanoflus functidatus Uhler, Mel. griseus Thomas, and MeZ. helliio Scudd. would probably prove to be one species.
Just Published, by Henry Holt & Co., New York. ~cudd&'s Brief Guide to the Corn- - Scudder's The Life of a Butterfly. moner Butterflies.
A Chapter in Natural History for
BY SAMUEL H. SCUDDER. xi + 206 pp. the General Reader. 12mo. $1.25.
An introduction, for the young student, to the names and something of the relationship and lives of our commoner butterflies. The author has selected for treatment the butter- flies, less than one hundred in number, which would be almost surely met with by an in- dustrious collector in a course of a year's or two year's work in our Northern States east of the Great Plains, and in Canada. While all the apparatus necessary to identify these butterflies, in their earlier as well as perfect stage, is supplied, it is far from the author's purpose to treat them as if they were so many mere postage-stamps to be classified and ar- ranged in a cabinet. He has accordingly
added to the descriptions of the different spe- cies, their most obvious stages, some of the curious facts concerning their periodicityand their habits of life.
By SAMUEL H. SCUDDER. 186 pp. 16mo.
$1 .oo.
In this book the author has tried to present in untechnical language the story of the life of one of our most conspicuous American
butterflies. At the same time, by introduc- ing into the account of its anatomy, devel- opment, distribution, enemies, and seasonal changes some comparisons with the more or less dissimilar structure and life of other but- terflies, and particularly of our native forms, he has endeavored to give, in some fashion and in brief space, a general account of the lives of the whole tribe. By using a single butterfly as a special text, one may discourse at pleasure of many ; and in the limited field which our native butterflies cover, this meth- od has a certain advantage from its simplicity and directness.




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