AN AUGUST SONG 213 



ascends a tree to the height of a few feet for the 

 sake of sunshine. On a day in October one was 

 watched throughout the last bright hours. It 

 climbed gradually up the stem of a larch, taking 

 advantage of all the warmest angles, in pursuit of 

 the retreating sunshine. He remained there for a 

 while after all humanly-perceptible heat from the 

 setting sun had ceased ; but when the orb dis- 

 appeared the insect at once leapt down amongst 

 some clematis, on through bright leaves, past thick 

 grasses matted below, right into the driest and 

 densest litter, in which he would lie during the 

 night, safe from all enemies but mole and shrew, 

 there to await the return of day and warmth. 



But the real August song in our insect world is 

 that of the green field cricket, or great green grass- 

 hopper (Acrida viridissiuid}. Compared with the 

 grasshopper's strain, this insect's song is that of a 

 very nightingale among orthopterons. As large 

 as a locust, coloured in gay green, with graceful 

 limbs, and armed with a powerful biting apparatus, 

 this creature need fear comparison or combat with 

 but few British insects. 



The loud and continued song or chirp of 



