LIFE-HISTORY. Ixvii 



manner as I have shown to be the case with the 

 Aphides. I have watched tliis pumping process in 

 the aduh forms of Tettigonia viridis, which are fond of 

 piercing tlie rinds of rushes. These insects may be 

 often seen motionless on the stems for half an hour, 

 during which time a large quantity of sap will pass 

 through their bodies, the liquid being voided with a 

 jerk in clear drops, at short intervals, from the anus. 

 These minute drops are projected almost like a shower 

 of small rain. Late in June, near Freshwater, in the 

 Isle of Wight, I have been quite inconvenienced by 

 the large drops of clear liquid shed, by hundreds of 

 Aphrophora3, upon my paper, whilst sketching under 

 the elm trees. 



I have kept the pretty green Tettigonid^ for more 

 than a month under tall glass shades, within which 

 rushes were growing ; but I have in vain sought to 

 witness the mode in which the female channels the 

 rind with her saws and rasps. Possibly this operation 

 and that of oviposition take place at night. 



The male Tettigonia assiduously follows the female, 

 keeping at a respectful distance of perhaps half an 

 inch behind her. He chases her up and down the 

 stalks, and appears to be very attentive in courtship. 

 When alarmed, the insects usually run round to the 

 back side of the stems for concealment, a habit which 

 is familiar to us in birds like our little tree-creeper 

 (Certhia), and the woodpecker {Ficus). These Tetti- 

 gonidas pass much of their time in preening and 

 combing their elytra with their hind tibiae, the edges 

 of which are densely and finely fringed with hair. 



A drop of moisture on an insect appears to make it 

 quite agitated, and the combing process then becomes 

 very rapid in movement. At night the Tettigonidae 

 anchor tbemselves by their rostra, and appear to sleep. 

 In such cases the approach of a lighted candle does 

 not seem to disturb them. 



The complicated ovipositor of the female forms an 

 interesting object for the microscope, when dissected. 



/2 



