THE GRASSHOPPER KIND. 15 



only difference is, that one species comes for food 

 in a swarm, the other feeds singly. 



That animal which is called the Grasshopper 

 with us, differs greatly from the cicada of anti- 

 quity ; for as our insect is active enough in hop- 

 ping through the long grass, from whence it has 

 taken its name, the cicada had not this power, 

 but either walked or flew. The little hissing note 

 also of our grasshopper is very different from the 

 song of the cicada, which was louder and far 

 more musical. The manner in which this note 

 is produced by the two animals is very different ; 

 for the cicada makes it by a kind of buckler, 

 which the male has beneath its belly ; the grass- 

 hopper by a transparent membrane that covers 

 a hole at the base of its wings. There is still a 

 greater variety in all these with regard to shape 

 and colour. Some are green, some black, some 

 livid, and some variegated ; but many of them do 

 not show all their colours till they fly. Some 

 have long legs, some short, some with more joints, 

 others with fewer. Some sing, others are mute ; 

 some are innocent, doing no damage to the hus- 

 bandman, while others do such prodigious mis- 

 chief, that they are looked upon in some coun- 

 tries as one of the terrible scourges of the in- 

 censed Divinity. 



Of this variegated tribe, the little grasshopper 

 that breeds in such plenty in every meadow, and 

 that continues its chirping through the summer, 

 is best known to us, and by having its history we 

 shall be possessed of that of all the rest. This 

 animal is of the colour of green leaves, except a 



47 



