The Decticus: his Instrument 



our makers of musical instruments, the Dec- 

 ticus combines the bow with the drum. 



The same combination is found in the 

 other Grasshoppers. The most famous of 

 these is the Green Grasshopper {Locusta 

 viridissima, Lin.), who to the qualities of a 

 handsome stature and a fine green colour 

 adds the honour of classical renown. In La 

 Fontaine she is the Cicada who comes alms- 

 begging of the Ant when the north wind 

 blows. Flies and Grubs being scarce, the 

 would-be borrower asks for a few grains to 

 live upon until next summer. The double 

 diet, animal and vegetable, is a very happy 

 inspiration on the fabulist's part. 



The Grasshopper, in fact, has the same 

 tastes as the Decticus. In my cages, he feeds 

 on lettuce-leaves when there is nothing better 

 going; but his preference is all in favour of 

 the Locust, whom he crunches up without 

 leaving anything but the wing-cases and 

 wings. In a state of liberty, his preying on 

 that ravenous browser must largely make up 

 to us for the small toll which he levies on 

 our agricultural produce. 



Except in a few details, his musical in- 

 strument is the same as that of the Decticus. 

 It occupies, at the base of the wing-cases, a 



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