130 FABKE'S BOOK OF INSECTS 



as I said, extend over each side in a wide fold. These are 

 the dampers which, lowered to a greater or less depth, alter 

 the intensity of the sound. According to the extent of their 

 contact with the soft body of the Cricket they allow him to 

 sing gently at one time and fortissimo at another. 



The exact similarity of the two wing-cases is worthy of 

 attention. I can see clearly the function of the upper bow, 

 and the four sounding-spaces which it sets in motion ; but 

 what is the good of the lower one, the bow on the left wing ? 

 Not resting on anything, it has nothing to strike with its hook, 

 which is as carefully toothed as the other. It is absolutely 

 useless, unless the apparatus can invert the order of its two 

 parts, and place that above which was below. If that could 

 be done, the perfect symmetry of the instrument is such that 

 the mechanism would be the same as before, and the insect 

 would be able to play with the bow that is at present useless. 

 The lower fiddlestick would become the upper, and the tune 

 would be the same. 



I suspected at first that the Cricket could use both bows, 

 or at least that there were some who were permanently left- 

 handed. But observation has convinced me of the contrary. 

 All the crickets I have examined and they are many without 

 a single exception carried the right wing-case above the left. 



I even tried to bring about by artificial means what Nature 

 refused to show me. Using my forceps, very gently of course, 

 and without straining the wing-cases, I made these overlap 

 the opposite way. It is easily done with a little skill and 

 patience. Everything went well : there was no dislocation 

 of the shoulders, the membranes were not creased. 



I almost expected the Cricket to sing, but I was soon 

 undeceived. He submitted for a few moments ; but then, 

 finding himself uncomfortable, he made an effort and restored 

 his instrument to its usual position. In vain I repeated the 

 operation : the Cricket's obstinacy triumphed over mine. 



Then I thought I would make the attempt while the wing- 

 cases were quite new and plastic, at the moment when the 



