The Life of the Grasshopper 



Nothing particular happens during the lay- 

 ing. The insect is motionless. Ten minutes 

 or so elapse between the first bite of the tool 

 and the complete filling of the cell. 



The ovipositor is then withdrawn with 

 deliberate slowness, so as not to warp it. 

 The boring-hole closes of itself, as the lig- 

 neous fibres come together again, and the 

 insect climbs a little higher, about as far as 

 the length of its instrument, in a straight 

 line. Here we see a new punch of the gimlet 

 and a new chamber receiving its half-a-score 

 of eggs. In this fashion the laying works its 

 way up from bottom to top. 



Once we know these facts, we are in a posi- 

 tion to understand the remarkable arrange- 

 ment controlling the work. The punctures, 

 the entrances to the cells, are almost equidi- 

 stant, because each time the Cicada ascends 

 about the same height, roughly the length 

 of her ovipositor. Very rapid in flight, she is 

 a very lazy walker. All that you ever see 

 her do on the live branch on which she drinks 

 is to move to a sunnier spot close by, with a 

 grave and almost solemn step. On the dead 

 branch where the eggs are laid she re- 

 tains her leisurely habits, even exagger- 

 ating them, in view of the importance of 



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