CURIOSITY OF BIRDS AND BEASTS 591 



poet, artist, scientist, or an inventor, without a vivid 

 imagination to aid him in his work. 



What the katydid really does say sounds more like 

 " kack-kack! " and u kack-kack-kack ! " with the accent 

 on the final word. While some people may deny that 

 this insect pronounces its own name, they cannot rob it of 

 sentiment. Even the unimaginative critic must grant 

 that the noise is the love call of the green knight of the 

 trees, and what he really says can be found translated 

 into human language in any book of love songs or 

 poetry, written by the human katydids, known as bards 

 and poets. 



As the season further advances other little musicians 

 join the orchestra. But, strange to say, when the rasp- 

 ing notes of a katydid, the strident scraping of the grass- 

 hoppers, and the shrill harping of the cricket mingle, 

 the combined sound is softened and mellowed by thou- 

 sands of near and distant insects, until the night air 

 pulsates and beats in regular waves. The rhythmic un- 

 dulations of sound are delicious to a drowsy person and 

 form the primeval lullaby which soothed our prehistoric 

 ancestors to sleep. But such a night, accompanied by 

 such music, is not to be found in all wild places. 



All these things, however, are signs of the advance of 

 summer, and the hum of insects at night is the forerunner 

 of the chorus of katydids. 



Every boy knows that when the katydids begin their 

 loud dispute it is only " six week to frost." Scientists 

 may dispute this, but they cannot dispute the fact that 

 vacation is almost over when the katydids begin to fid- 

 dle and produce the rasping sounds from which they 



