The Decticus: his Instrument 



our makers of musical instruments, the Dec- 

 ticus combines the bow with the drum. 



The same combination is found in the 

 other Grasshoppers. The most famous of 

 these is the Green Grasshopper (Locusta 

 viridissima, LIN.), who to the qualities of a 

 handsome stature and a fine green colour 

 adds the honour of classical renown. In La 

 Fontaine she is the Cicada who comes alms- 

 begging of the Ant when the north wind 

 blows. Flies and Grubs being scarce, the 

 would-be borrower asks for a few grains to 

 live upon until next summer. The double 

 diet, animal and vegetable, is a very happy 

 inspiration on the fabulist's part. 



The Grasshopper, in fact, has the same 

 tastes as the Decticus. In my cages, he feeds 

 on lettuce-leaves when there is nothing better 

 going; but his preference is all in favour of 

 the Locust, whom he crunches up without 

 leaving anything but the wing-cases and 

 wings. In a state of liberty, his preying on 

 that ravenous browser must largely make up 

 to us for the small toll which he levies on 

 our agricultural produce. 



Except in a few details, his musical in- 

 strument is the same as that of the Decticus. 

 It occupies, at the base of the wing-cases, a. 

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