CHAPTER XYI. 



MUSIC-MAKING INSECTS. 



The instruments by which the male cricket produces 

 the sounds whicli have given such celebrity to this 

 insect, form a part of the wing-covers. The base or 

 horizontal and overlapping portion of these organs 

 near the thorax is convex, and marlved with large, 

 strong, and irregularly curved veins. These veins run 

 tlu'ough the middle portion of tlie wing. When the 

 cricket chirrups or slirills he raises the wing-covers a 

 little and shuffles them together lengthwise, so that the 

 projecting veins of one are made to grate against tliose 

 of another. If we seek an analogy for this action 

 among musical instruments we must select the violin, 

 whose sounds are produced by the rubbing of the bow 

 against the strings, or the banjo, harp and guitar, 

 whose sounds are evoked by striking tlie fingers upon 

 the strings. In fact it is quite as much like a file or a 

 watchman's rattle. 



" Do all insects make their music in the same way ?" 

 asked Abby. 



"The sound-producing organs are constructed on the 

 same general principle, but there is mucli difference in 

 details. In the katydid for example, the musical in- 

 struments are a pair of taborets. Most of you are quite 



