GRASSHOPPER, BUG. 207 



THE GRASSHOPPER. 



THAT animal which is called the Grasshopper 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 grasshopper is very different from the song of 

 the cicada, which was louder and far more musical. The 

 manner in which this note is produced by the two animals, 

 is very different ; for the cicada makes it by a kind of 

 buckler, which the male has beneath his belly ; the grass- 

 hopper by a transparent membrane that covers a hole at 

 the base of its wings. There is still a greater variety in 

 all these with regard to shape and colour. Some are 

 green, some black, some livid, and some variegated ; but 

 many of them do not 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 husbandman, while 

 others do such prodigious mischief, that they are looked 

 upon in some countries as one of the scourges of the 

 incensed Divinity. 



THE BUG. 



This animal, if examined minutely, appears to consist of 

 three principal parts, the head, the corslet, and the belly. 

 It has two brown eyes, that are very small, and a little 

 prominent, besides two feelers, with three joints ; under- 

 neath these there is a crooked trunk, which is its instru- 

 ment of torture, and which, when in motion, lies close 

 upon the breast. The breast is a kind of ring, in which 

 are placed the two first pair of legs. The belly consists of 

 nine rings, under which are placed two pair of legs more, 

 making'six in all. Each leg has three joints, which form 

 the thigh, the leg, and the foot, which is armed with a 

 crooked claw, like a hook. The body is smooth, except a 

 few short hairs, that may be seen by the microscope about 

 the vent, and to the two last rings. Its motion is slow 

 and unwieldly ; yet its sight is so exquisite, that the 



