56 The South Australian Naturalist. 



that our observations have shown us that the creature is a very 

 necessary factor in the working of Nature's ways, we now 

 liberate it, hoping that it will still live for some time to continue 

 its useful work. 



(Concluded.) 



LONG-HORNED TREE LOCUSTS. 



By E. M. Breen (Barrier Field Naturalists' Club) 



These strong, beautiful nocturnal creatures are savage and 

 game to the end. When no longer able to stand, it lies on 

 sand at the bottom of the cage ; just a touch w^ith the finger, 

 and the strong jaws are instantly opened savagely, and it strikes 

 out with its big hopping legs. They die very slowly, lying the 

 whole day without moving, unless touched. Some make con- 

 vulsive movements, as if caused by a spasm of pain, w^hen they 

 first lie on the sand. 



The females do not live very long after they have finished 

 laying. The males do not get the chance of a natural death ; 

 the females see to that. They are most plentiful from Novem- 

 ber to the end of December, and they seem to live only a year. 

 The rustling sound made by the locusts when trying to frighten 

 anything away is not made by shaking the body against the 

 wings, for the young wingless creatures can make the same 

 noise. The tip of the abdomen is bent forward, thereby extend- 

 ing the segment rings and giving the top part a rounded appear- 

 ance. It is really the rapid extension and pushing together of 

 these segment rings that causes the rustling sound. 



(Concluded.) 



