Insect Study 



375 



There would be no use of the cricket's playing his mandolin if there 

 were not an appreciative ear to listen to his music. This ear is placed 

 most conveniently in the tibia of the front leg, so that the crickets literally 

 hear with their elbows, as do the katydids and the meadow grasshoppers. 

 The ear is easily seen with the naked eye as a little white, disklike spot. 



The chirp of the cricket is, in literature, usually associated with the 

 coming of autumn; but the careful hstener may hear it in early summer, 

 although the song is not then so insistent as later in the season. He 

 usually commences singing in the afternoon and keeps it up periodically 

 all night. I have always been an admirer of the manly, dignified methods 

 of this little "minnesinger," who does not wander abroad to seek his lady 

 love but stands sturdily at his own gate, playing his mandolin the best he 

 is able; he has faith that his sable sweetheart is not far away, and that if 

 she likes his song she will come to him of her own free will. The cricket is 

 ever a lover of warmth and his mandolin gets out of tune soon after the 

 evenings become frosty. He is a jealous musician. When he hears the 

 note of a rival, he at once "bristles up," lifting his wings at a higher angle 

 and giving off a sharp militant note. If the two rivals come in sight of 

 each other, there is a tierce duel. They rush at each other with wide open 

 jaws, and fight until one is conquered and retreats, often minus an 

 antenna, cerca, or even a leg. The cricket's note has a wide range of 

 expression. When waiting for his lady love, he keeps up a constant 

 droning; if he hears his rival, the tone is sharp and defiant; but as the 

 object of his afi;ection approaches, the music changes to a seductive 

 whispering, even having in it an uncertain quiver, as if his feelings were 

 too strong for utterance. 



References — Manual for Study of Insects, p. 115; Insect Musicians;" 

 Ways of the Six Footed, Comstock. 



A cricket cage. 



LESSON LXXXII 

 The Black Cricket 



Leading thought — The crickets are among the 

 most famous of the insect musicians. They live in 

 the fields under stones and in burrows, and feed 

 upon grass and clover. As with the song birds, 

 the male only makes nmsic; he has his wing- 

 covers developed into a mandolin or violin, which 

 he plays to attract his mate and also for his own 

 pleasure. 



Method — Make some cricket cages as follows: 

 Take a small flower-pot and plant in it a root of 

 fresh grass or clover. Place over this and press 

 well into the soil a lantern or lamp chimney. 

 Cover the top with mosquito netting. Place the 

 pot in its saucer, so that it may be watered by 

 keeping the saucer filled. Ask the pupils to 

 collect some crickets. In each cage, place a male 

 and one or more females, the latter being readily 

 distinguished by the long ovipositors. Place the 

 cages in a sunny window, where the pupils may 



