THE GRASSHOPPER KIND 



771 



CHAPTER CLXXXI. 



OF THE GRASSHOPPER, THE LOCUST, THE CICADA, THE CRICKET, AND 



THE MOLE-CRICKET. 



BELONGING to the second order of in- 

 sects, we find a tribe of little animals, which, 

 though differing in size and colour, strongly 

 resemble each other in figure, appetites, na- 

 ture, and transformation. But though they 

 all appear of one family, yet man has been 

 taught to hold them in different estimation; 

 for while some of this tribe amuse him with 

 their chirpings, and banish solitude from the 

 fieMs, others come in swarms, eat up every 

 thing that is green, and in a single night con- 

 vert the most delightful landscape into a 

 dreary watte. However, if these animals be 

 separately considered, the devouring locust 

 is not in the least more mischievous than the 

 musical grasshopper; the only difference is, 

 that one species comes for food in a swarm, 

 the other i'eeds singly. 



That animal which is called the grasshop- 

 per with us, differs greatly from the cicada 

 of antiquity; for as our insect is active enough 

 in hopping through the long grass, from 

 whence it has taken its name, the cicada had 

 not this power, but either walked or flew. 

 The little hissing note also of our grasshop- 

 per is very different from the song of the 

 cicada, which was louder, and far more mu- 

 sical. The manner in which this note is pro- 

 duced by the two animals is very different; 

 for the cicada makes it by a kind of buckler, 

 which the male has beneath its belly ; the 

 grasshopper by a transparent membrane that 

 covers a hole at the base of its wings. There 

 is still a greater variety in all these with re- 

 gard to shape and colour. Some are green, 

 some black, some livid, and some variegated; 

 but many of themdonot show all their colours 

 till they fly. Some have long legs, some 

 short, some with more joints, others with 

 fewer. Some sing, others are mute: some 

 are innocent, doing no damage to the hus- 

 bandman; while others do such prodigious 

 mischief, thai they are looked upon in some 



Jfo. 65 & GT>. 



countries as one of the terrible scourges of 

 the incensed Divinity. 



Of this variegated tribe, the little grasshop- 

 per that breeds in such plenty in every mea- 

 dow, and that continues its chirping through 

 the summer, is best known to us ; and by 

 having its history, we shall be possessed of 

 that of all the rest. This animal is of the 

 colour of green leaves, except a line of brown 

 which streaks the back, and two pale lines 

 under the belly and behind the legs. It may 

 be divided into the head, the corselet, and 

 the belly. The head is oblong, regarding 

 the earth, and bearing some resemblance to 

 that of a horse. Its mouth is covered by a 

 kind of round buckler jutting over it, and 

 armed with teeth of a brown colour, hooked 

 at the points. Within the mouth is perceiv- 

 able a large reddish tongue, and fixed to the 

 lower jaw. The feelers or horns are very 

 long, tapering off" to a point ; and the eyes 

 are like two black specks, a little prominent. 

 -Sfhe corselet is elevated, narrow, armed 

 above and below by two serrated spines. 

 The back is armed with a strong buckler, to 

 which the muscles of the legs are firmly bound, 

 and round these muscles are seen the vessels 

 by which the animal breaths, as white as 

 snow. The last pair of legs are much longer 

 and stronger than the first twe-pair, fortified 

 by thick muscles, and very well formed for 

 leaping. It has four wings ; the anterior ones 

 springing from the second pair of legs, the 

 posterior from the third pair. The hinder 

 wings are much finer and more expansive 

 than the foremost, and are the principal in- 

 struments of its flight. The belly is con- 

 siderably large, composed of eight rings, and 

 terminated by a forky tail, covered with 

 down, like the tail of a rat. When examined 

 internally, besides the gullet, we discover a 

 small stomach; and behind that a very large 

 one, wrinkled and furrowed within side : 

 5P 



