ROADSIDE LIFE. 



233 



(Fig. 201), although some species have comparatively 

 short ones. They feed on small insects, especially 

 aphids, and are perfectly harmless. 



FIG. 2ci. 



It is a common practice with children to catch 

 these creatures and say to them, " Grandfather-gray- 

 beard, tell me where the cows are or I'll kill you ! ' 

 As the poor frightened animal points its legs in all 

 directions in its frantic efforts to escape, it usually 

 earns its freedom, but too often it is not without the 

 loss of one or more legs. 



THE LOCUSTS, GRASSHOPPERS, AND CRICKETS. 



The locusts, grasshoppers, and crickets are the 

 most universally common and conspicuous of the 

 roadside insects ; for at any time, from early spring 

 to late autumn, some of them can be found by any 

 grassy roadside. 



These three groups of insects constitute three 

 closely related families of the order Orthoptera, 

 which are characterized on pages 72-74. They all 

 agree in having the hind legs fitted for jumping, but 

 differ in the form of the antennas and of the oviposi- 

 tor, and in the number of segments in the tarsi. 



The crickets are generally known as such, but 

 confusion exists in the common names of the other 



