STRAIGHT-WINGED INSECTS. 153 



and are consequently obliged to keep silence and list- 

 en to the music of their lords, but they are provided 

 with a formidable looking sword-like ovipositor at the 

 extremity of the abdomen, with which they pierce 

 holes in the ground for the purpose of depositing their 

 eggs. These eggs are generally laid in the fall, and 

 are hatched out in the ensuing spring. 



A very close and interesting observation of the con- 

 duct of these insects may be made every autumn, by 

 putting a pair of them into a wide glass vessel, having 

 the bottom covered with turf, which however must be 

 sprinkled with water every day. As soon as the eve- 

 ning begins, the female will commence laying her 

 eggs and depositing them in the ground, and the male 

 will announce in loud tones that Katy-clid-it. If you 

 preserve these eggs in the turf through the winter, 

 and open them in the following spring, you will find 

 the insect in a perfect condition, except being destitute 

 of wings. It is a very singular fact and shows the 

 general deficiency in entomological knowledge, that 

 numberless though they be, still very few persons can 

 say that they have seen this handsome little insect. 

 It dwells in trees and shrubs and usually conceals itself 

 during the day under the leaves. I have no doubt 

 that many, if not all have accidentally met with it, but 

 few, except those acquainted with entomology have 



observed it knowing it to be the famous Katy-did ; 

 11 



