CHAPTER XIII. 

 LOCUSTS AND GRASSHOPPERS. 



THERE is no better way in beginning the study of insects 

 than to catch a common locust or grass- 

 hopper, and to carefully examine its head, 

 wings, legs, and other parts. By study- 

 ing one insect with care the pupil can ob- 

 tain a good idea of the nature of all other 

 insects.* 



It will be seen that, as in the lobster, 

 there are a head and hind body and upper 

 and under side ; and that if divided in halves, 

 each side would exactly repeat the other. FlG 99 _ Front view 

 The body is more distinctly divided into 

 three parts than in the lobster, since the 

 head is more distinct from the chest or 

 thorax. The body appears as if twice cut 

 into; hence the name insect, from insec- 

 tum, which is the Latin for "cut into," or 

 insected. 



As in the lobster, the outer wall or skin forms a hard 



* Anybody can catch a grasshopper; after it is caught it may be 

 killed without its suffering any pain, by throwing it into a bottle con- 

 taining cotton saturated with ether. It may when dead be taken out 

 of the collecting-bottle and dried. It is most convenient to pin it. 

 This may be done by thrusting a slender insect-pin through the collar. 

 For class use, it is better to preserve a lot of grasshoppers in alcohol; 

 before using them they can be soaked in water to take out the alco- 

 holic odor, and can then be easily handled, and the wings unfolded or 

 the mouth parts and legs moved without their breaking off. In ex- 

 amining insects it is well to be provided with a hand-lens or micro- 

 scope. 



of the head of C. 

 spretus. E, epicra- 

 nium; C, clypeus: 

 L, labrum; o o, 

 ocelli; e, eye; o, an- 

 tenna; md, mandi- 

 ble; nix, portion of 

 maxilla uncovered 

 by the labrum; p, 

 maxillary palpus; 

 p', labial palpus. 



