GRASSHOPPERS— CRICKETS. 



63 



Fig. 44 represents the leg of a grasshopper (Steno- 

 hothrus ])ratorum). On the inner side of the thigh, at 

 s, is a file, consisting of a row of fine teeth (Fig. 45, ;s), 

 which rub against the wing-covers, and thus produce the 

 well-known sounds. 



Lehmann states that Brunelli " kept and fed several 

 males of Grijllus viridissimus in a closet, which were 

 very merry, and continued singing all the day ; but a 

 rap at the door would stojD them instantly. By practice 

 he learned to imitate their chirping ; when he did this 

 at the door, at first a few would answer him in a low 

 note, and then the whole party would take up the tune 

 and sing with all their might. He once shut up a male 

 of the species in his garden, and gave a female her 

 liberty ; but when she 



heard the male chirp, ^ ^ ^ ^ i\ is. Js^ ^. — -^ 

 she flew to him im- 

 mediately." * 



In the males of 

 the house and field 

 crickets, the source of 

 the sound is different. 

 On the inner margin 

 of the left wing-cover, about one-third of its length 

 from the base, a thickened point is observed, from 

 which several strong veins diverge. The strongest of 

 these veins, that running towards the base of the wing- 

 cover, is regularly notched on the under side trans- 

 versely, like a file. When the wing-covers are closed, 

 this oblique bar of the wing-cover lies upon the upper 

 surface of the corresponding part of the right wing- 



* " De Sensibus externis Animaliiim exsanguinium." Gottingen : 

 1798. I give Kirby and Spence's translation. 



Fig. 45. — Sound-bow of Stenobotlirus (after 

 Landois). s, Surface of the skin ; z, teeth. 



