The Life of the Grasshopper 



is superior to the Cicada's, in which the con- 

 traction of two columns of muscles alternately 

 pulls in and lets out the convex surface of 

 two barren cymbals. It needs sound- 

 chambers, resonators, to become a noisy ap- 

 paratus. As things are, it emits a lingering 

 and plaintive tchi-i-i, tchi-i-i, tchi-i-i, in a 

 minor key, which is heard even farther 

 than the blithe bowing of the White-faced 

 Decticus. 



When disturbed in their repose, the Dec- 

 ticus and the other Grasshoppers at once 

 become silent, struck dumb with fear. With 

 them, singing invariably expresses gladness. 

 The Ephippiger also dreads to be disturbed 

 and baffles with his sudden silence whoso 

 seeks to find him. But take him between 

 your fingers. Often he will resume his 

 stridulation with erratic strokes of the bow. 

 At such times the song denotes anything but 

 happiness, fear rather and all the anguish of 

 danger. The Cicada likewise rattles more 

 shrilly than ever when a ruthless child dis- 

 locates his abdomen and forces open his 

 chapels. In both cases, the gay refrain of 

 the mirthful insect turns into the lamentation 

 of a persecuted victim. 



A second peculiarity of the Ephippiger's, 



268 



