252 Notes and Gleanings. 



which condition the locusts are often dug up in gardening and excavating, with- 

 out their real character being discovered. The next season, it opens one end of 

 its cell to gain access to the small roots and moist earth, but does not leave the 

 cell ; and thus it continues from season to season, each year enlarging its cell, 

 never changing its locality from the time it enters the earth until it emerges. 

 The musical organs of the locust, by which they keep up the peculiar and uni- 

 versal din from sunrise to sunset, are described at length by Dr. Smith, and the 

 fact stated that it is only the male which has the organ of sound. He says, — 



" The musical organs are also very curious, and difficult to describe. Directly 

 under the shoulder of the wing, on each side of the chest, there is a beautiful 

 membrane, somewhat triangular, convex, and ribbed with fine bony ridges. This 

 membrane resembles a small shell, and is stretched over a cavity in the chest, 

 the lower angle connected internally with a strong muscle. On the breast there 

 are two large scales, one on each side, firmly attached to the breast above, but 

 free below. On bending the body backwards, these scales are elevated, and 

 expose two large cavities, also covered with extremely fine and silk-like mem- 

 branes. These cavities are connected with those under the musical membranes 

 under the wing shoulders, and probably serve for lungs. When these cavities 

 are filled with air, the musical organs or membranes first described are made 

 to produce the sound by the large muscles ; the bony ridges of the membranes 

 being made to act upon each other with such rapidity, that the motion is scarcely 

 perceptible." 



Whilst the most harmless and defenceless of creatures, this insect has innu- 

 merable enemies. Chickens, turkeys, birds, squirrels, and pigs will scarcely 

 touch any other food during the locust season. A curious effect on all hen's 

 eggs laid after feeding upon this diet is that their yolks are nearly white. A 

 remarkable character of the insect mentioned by Dr. Smith is its solitary life. 

 Although in close neighborhood to numerous individuals of its class, two are 

 never found in a cell nor in contact. This is also their character in the perfect 

 or winged state. Dr. Smith has given in the work from which we have gleaned 

 these facts the most painstaking and complete account of this insect in exist- 

 ence, embellished with admirable drawings representing it in all its stages. It 

 is to be hoped that some of our learned societies will have their attention 

 attracted to this valuable and interesting manuscript, and take steps for its 

 publication. — Exchange. 



Our correspondent Joseph Hobbins, M.D., of Madison, Wis., — who has 

 lately been elected, we observe, a corresponding member of the Royal Hor- 

 ticultural Society of England, — writes to us from Madison, Aug. 8, as 

 follows : — 



" Our fruit prospects in this State are very poor. What with the almost snow- 

 less winter and the long and exceedingly hot and dry spell in June and July, 

 our fruit-trees and vines have had little chance of fruiting. I have never known 

 so much injury done to the vines by winter since I have grown them." 



