The Life of the Grasshopper 



The sterile end, which is at least as big 

 as the other, tells us that the apparatus which 

 produces the foam is in operation before the 

 oviduct and afterwards goes on while the 

 latter is working. 



By what mechanism does the Tryxalis 

 froth up her viscous product into a porous 

 column first and a mattress for the eggs after- 

 wards? She must certainly know the method 

 of the Praying Mantis, who, with the aid of 

 spoon-shaped valves, whips and beats her 

 glair and converts it into an omelette souf- 

 fiee; but in the Acridian's case the frothing 

 is done within and there is nothing outside 

 to betray its existence. The glue is foamy 

 from the moment of its appearing in the 

 open air. 



In the Mantis' building, that complex work 

 of art, it is not a case of any special talent, 

 which the mother can exercise at will. The 

 wonderful egg-casket comes from the ordi- 

 nary action of the mechanism, is merely the 

 outcome of the organization. A fortiori, the 

 Tryxalis, in discharging her clumsy sausage, 

 is purely a machine. The thing happens of 

 itself. 



The same applies to the Locusts. They 

 have no industry of their own specially de- 



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