__ __ THE GRASSHOPPER. 177 



Mutual combats Become old in winter. 



at the base of the wings, there will be found a 

 little hole in its body, covered with a fine trans- 

 parent membrane. This is thought by Linnaeus, 

 lo be the instrument it employs in singing ; but 

 others are of opinion, the sound is produced by 

 rubbing its hinder legs against each other ; how- 

 ever this be, the note of one male is seldom 

 heard, but is returned by another ; and the two 

 little animals, after many mutual insults of this 

 kind, are seen to meet and fight desperately. 

 The female is generally the reward of victory : 

 for, after the combat, the male seizes her with 

 his teeth behind the neck, and thus keeps her for 

 several hours. 



Towards the latter end of autumn, the female 

 prepares to deposit her burthen ; and her body 

 is then seen greatly distended with her eggs, 

 which she carries to the number of an hundred 

 and fifty. In order to make a proper lodgment 

 in the earth for them, nature has furnished her 

 with an instrument at her tail, somewhat resem- 

 bling a two-edged sword, which she can sheath 

 and unsheath at pleasure : with this she pierces 

 the earth as deep as she is able ; and into the 

 hole which her instrument has made, she depo- 

 sits her eggs one after the other. Having thus 

 provided for the continuation of her posterity, 

 the animal herself does not long survive ; but as 

 the winter approaches, she dries up, seems to 

 feel the effects of age, and dies from a total 

 decay. Some, however, assert, that she is killed 



VOL. VI. NO. 42. Y 



