Melanoplus abortivus, new species.—Size rather small, especially the male. Female nearly as large as M. femur-rubrum, but proportionately much stouter.

Frontal costa nearly reaching the clypeus, subequal, though sometimes a little contracted toward the vertex, plane except a slight depression at the ocellus, or in the male generally slightly sulcate from just above the ocellus, rather thinly punctate. Vertex witht the margins slightly elevated, gently expanding in front of the eyes for a distance about equal to or somewhat less than that between the eyes in the female, rather greater in the male.