MUSIC-MAKING INSECTS. 303 



contiguous rows along the surface of a twig, the bark of 

 which has been previously shaved off or made rough 

 with her piercer. Each row consists of eight or nine 

 eggs, placed somewhat obliquely and overlapping each 

 other a little, and they are fastened to the twig with a 

 gummy substance? In hatching, the egg splits open at 

 one end and the young insect creeps through the cleft. 

 Its history after that, as I have said, quite resembles 

 that of other Orthoptera.'" 



" Are the katydids and crickets injurious to vegeta- 

 tion ?" asked Penn. 



" The katydids do little harm ; l)ut crickets when 

 they abound do much injury, eating the most tender 

 parts of plants, and oven devouring roots and fruits 

 when they can get at them. Melons, squashes and po- 

 tatoes are often eaten by them, and the quantity of 

 grass that they destroy must be great, judging by tk-ta 

 immense numbers which are sometimes seen in our 

 meadows and fields. They are not strict vegetarians, 

 however, but devour other insects when they can over- 

 power them." 



" Are not crickets, like katydids, named from the 

 character of the note which they sound?" inquired 

 Abby. 



"Undoubtedly," answered the Doctor ; "and it is a 

 curious fact, and one quite suggestive as to the natural 

 oi-igin of a certain class of words, that the note of this 

 insect has suggested its name in several other lan- 

 guaores. The French cri-cri, the Dutch l-rekel, the 

 Welsh crkeJl and criceVa, are, like the English cricket, 



