230

FAMILY VI.—LOCUSTIDvE.

b. A black line on each margin of cone extending fromthe apex half way or more to base; inner, lowercarina of posterior femora with four or five minute

spines. ensiger Harris.

bb. Cone of vertex entirely black beneath; posteriorfemora armed on both of the lower carinas witha number of plainly visible spines.

nebrascensis Bruner,aa. Cone of vertex rather stout, less than 3 mm. in length,devoid of black markings. robustus Scudder.

Conocephalus ensiger Harris.

THE SWORD-BEARER.

A slender-bodied species, the general color of which isusually grass green, the body and face paler; the posterior

tibiae and tip of ovipositorinfuscated. Lateral carinaeof pronotum sometimeswith a faint yellow line,more plainly visible in thedried specimens. TegminaFig. 153 .—conocephalus ensiger, male, very long andslender. Cone

Natural size. Original. . .

of vertex with a small toothprojecting downward from the front of its base. Ovipositorof excessive length, straight, the apex pointed.

Measurements.—Male: Length of body, 26 mm.; oftegmina, 42 mm.; of posterior femora, 21 mm. Female:Length of body, 28 mm.; of tegmina, 47 mm.; of posteriorfemora, 23 mm.; of cone of vertex, 3.25 mm.; of pronotum,7.5 mm.; of ovipositor, 31 mm.

This is the best known species of Sword-bearers in Min­ nesota , and it is by no means very common. It is foundamong the tall grasses along ditches and swamps. Here inSt. Anthony Park it is most frequently observed upon thestems of a coarse grass (Andropogon), which grows in dry