MUSICIANS 269 



the volume of sound proceeding from so small a 

 creature is marvellous. 



We have kept our native Green Grasshopper 

 (Locusta viridissima) as a pet, feeding it upon 

 flies, and in the evenings it sang with notes that 

 resounded through the house. In this family the 

 ears are placed in the front legs, a little below 

 the knee. 



De Geer pointed out long ago that an eye-like 

 spot in the right wing-cover of the male was pro- 

 bably connected with the powerful note of this 

 species. This area consists of transparent mem- 

 brane " resembling a little mirror or piece of 

 talc, of the tension of a drum. This membrane 

 is surrounded by a strong and prominent nervure, 

 and is concealed under the fold of the left elytrum, 

 which has also several prominent nervures answering 

 to the margin of the membrane. There is every 

 reason to believe that the brisk movement with 

 which the grasshopper rubs these nervures against 

 each other produces a vibration in the membrane 

 augmenting the sound. The males in question sing 

 continually in the hedges and trees during the 

 months of July and August, especially towards 

 sunset and part of the night. When any one 

 approaches they immediately cease their song." 



It is to this family of long-horned grasshoppers 

 that the famous American Katydids belong. We 

 use the plural form, because there are several 

 different species, and they do not all belong to the 

 same genus. They agree in uttering sounds that 



