THE LARGE GREEN GRASSHOPPER. 83 



a table or any elevated spot to a lower eminence I 

 have seen it go above a yard. It walks about a 

 great deal but I do not think it ever flies ; when I 

 threw it into the air it never attempted to do so, it 

 spread out its wings but merely to break the fall, in 

 fact, it always uses its wings when leaping. 



I noticed the frequent application of the tarsi to 

 the mouth when walking ; it took place not only when 

 the animal was climbing up the smooth glass, but in 

 going up a wall or door, and even in walking over the 

 carpet. On the wall it took place about every half- 

 dozen steps, but not so often on the door or carpet, 

 and still less frequently when walking up my coat. 

 I scarcely think with Mr. Tate that by this action 

 the feet are rendered more glutinous, but that it 

 brings them to its mouth simply to cleanse them 

 from any particles of dust that may adhere, by which 

 the action of the pads or suckers may be impeded ; 

 as it uses these suckers more in climbing smooth 

 surfaces than in walking, the cleansing would in the 

 former case be necessarily more frequent. When- 

 ever it finds one of its feet slipping about on the 

 wall, it brings it to its mouth and cleans it, after 

 which it adheres very well until clogged again with 

 dust. I noticed especially when it was trying to 

 gain a footing on a dusty ledge above the door, it 

 completely failed, although every foot was repeatedly 

 cleansed. Viridissima is very clean in its habits, 

 washing its face with its feet very much as a cat 

 does ; it also with its mouth frequently cleanses its 

 ovipositor and antenna, the latter being bent down 

 to the jaws by one of the front legs and drawn up- 

 wards with a curve,'like that of a carriage-whip. I 



