LIFE IN WOODS OF NORTH MICHIGAN 277 



My attention was first attracted to these grass- 

 hoppers by their larvae. Seeing a vast number of 

 some minute, jumping insects among the grass, I at 

 first thought that they were a kind of flea, or jigger. 

 That was just their size and superficial appearance. 

 I soon discovered, however, that they were young 

 grasshoppers, and on calling my host's attention to 

 them, his countenance fell, and he exclaimed, " The 

 varmints have appeared at length ! " According to him 

 they were very late, notwithstanding the favourableness 

 of the season; but the multitude of them was greater 

 than he had ever seen before, and he anticipated a heavy 

 loss of his hay-crop. 



A patch of grass that has been devastated by grass- 

 hoppers presents a rather singular appearance. The 

 fastidious insects do not devour the bents, or hard stems, 

 but only the tender sprigs or leaves. The bents there- 

 fore stick up like the short straws in a stubble-field. 

 The work of destruction goes on steadily, but fast 

 enough to enable you to mark a change in the field 

 every morning ; while the chirping, stridulation, or 

 whatever you like to call it, of the insects is kept up 

 all night long, and affords one of the best means of 

 judging of their immense numbers. It is not a loud 

 or an unpleasant noise ; on the contrary, it is a cheerful 

 sound ; but it seems to come from every square inch 

 of the ground, giving the idea of millions of tiny chirpers, 

 which is probably not an incorrect one. Indeed, on this 

 farm alone there must have been hundreds of millions. 

 By passing the hand quickly over the grass I could 

 capture hundreds of the larvae in a single grasp; but 

 it is not while the insects are in this stage that a serious 

 attempt can be made to lessen their numbers to exter- 

 minate them is impossible ; and, strange to say, few birds, 

 in this part of the country at all events, seem to prey 

 on them to any great extent. Domestic fowls, ducks, 

 and turkeys like them ; but the ducks, at least, prefer 



