80 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



they live on the leaves. This in no way mitigates the special 

 adaptation of his bodj' referred to, for I have found that his 

 attenuated form resembles almost as well the leaf veins of 

 various other plants. 



In the latter part of July, I found on the wild gooseberry 

 two very small individuals. These young readily sought the 

 underside of the leaves when they were rustled. In the accom- 

 panying plate photographic illustration of the wild gooseberry 

 branch, I have portrayed them on the upper surface of the 

 leaves, though on the underside there were far more individuals. 



Again, in the plate photographic illustration of the oak 

 leaves, the reader may also note a shadowy j)icture of another 

 Orthopteran frequenter on the largest leaf near the middle. 

 This is a young round-wing katydid, quite plainly visible to 

 the eyes while viewed in nature, but in the j)hot()graph his 

 dark, rich green body blends and appears like a shadowy out- 

 line. This youthful individual walked stealthily over the 

 leaf, protected by his dark green coloring which was effectually 

 tinged with light brown. His blackish antennie were very 

 long and l)roken by alternating dark and light rings. These 

 ring markings were effective against the green of the leaf and 

 faded parts which surrounded him. Even the camera with 

 its sensitive film failed to bring out his distinctive features. 



The adult walking-sticks often exhibit a most singular per- 

 formance when they are attacked or frightened. Either they 

 walk off with an ungainly stride in their attempt to escape, or 

 they may fall to the ground. In the latter case they often 

 "play possum" by lying perfectly rigid on the ground among the 

 debris, feigning death perfectly. On such occasions they will 

 sometimes allow themselves to be handled and still retain the 

 stiffened attitude for minutes, or even hours afterwards, without 

 regaining their feet. One of these feigning insects which I 

 brought indoors was left on a table at ten o'clock in the fore- 

 noon and it stayed in the same position on its back until half- 

 past three in the afternoon of the .same day, or a period of six 

 and a half hours. In the meantime it passed faecal matter 

 three times, showing that internal functions were actively 

 carried on during this apparently intense nervous suspense. 



Preyer ascribed the "shannning dead" of insects to the 



