230 STUDIES IN THE FIELD AND FOREST. 



structed on the principle of the jewsharp, and of the 

 reeds in a reed-organ. The grasshopper, in all ages, has 

 been noted for his musical propensities ; and is fre 

 quently represented as playing on the harp, in certain 

 ancient emblematical vignettes. 



Each genus of these insects has a peculiar modula 

 tion of his notes. The common green grasshopper, 

 that during the months of August and September fills 

 the whole atmosphere with his din, is found chiefly in 

 the lowland meadows which are covered with the native 

 grasses. This grasshopper modulates his notes some 

 what like the cackling of a hen, uttering several chirps 

 in rapid succession, and following them with a loud 

 spinning sound, that seems to be the conclusion of the 

 strain. His strains are continued incessantly, from the 

 time when the sun is up high enough to dry the dews, 

 until dewfall in the evening. These players are 

 delighted with the clear bright sunshine, and sing but 

 very little on cloudy days, even when the air is dry and 

 warm. 



There is another species of grasshopper with short 

 wings, that makes a kind of grating sound, by scraping 

 his legs, that serve for bows, against his sides, that rep 

 resent, as it were, the strings of a viol. If we go into 

 the whortleberry pastures, we may hear still another 

 species, that makes a continued trilling, like the note of 

 the hairbird, and often continues the sound half a 

 minute or more, without apparent rest. This insect re 

 minds me of the louder shrilling of those species which 

 are heard in the southern States. The note of this 

 grasshopper is not so agreeable as the notes of those 

 whose strains are more rapidly intermittent. 



The American locusts make their peculiar sounds by 

 inflating air into their bodies, and expressing it between 



