The Life of the Grasshopper 



the right; or is it from behind? We are 

 absolutely at a loss, quite unable to guide 

 ourselves by the ear towards the spot where 

 the insect is chirping. 



It needs a fine stock of patience and the 

 most minute precautions to capture the singer 

 by the light of a lantern. The few speci- 

 mens caught under these conditions and 

 caged have supplied me with the little that I 

 know about the musician who is so clever at 

 baffling our ears. 



The wing-cases are both formed of a 

 broad, dry, diaphanous membrane, fine as a 

 white onion-skin and capable of vibrating 

 throughout its whole area. They are shaped 

 like a segment of a circle thinning towards 

 the upper end. This segment folds back at 

 right angles along a prominent longitudinal 

 vein and forms a flap which encloses the 

 insect's side when at rest. 



The right wing-case lies above the left. 

 Its inner edge bears underneath, near the 

 root, a knob which is the starting-point of 

 five radiating veins, of which two run up- 

 wards, two downwards and the fifth almost 

 transversely. The last-named, which is 

 slightly reddish, is the main part, in short 

 the bow, as is shown by the fine notches cut 



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