40 



GRASSHOPPERS. MIGRATORY LOCUSTS. 



sword-like ovipositor, which terminates the abdomen. The larvae 

 have neither wings nor sheaths for containing them ; in other 

 respects they resemble the imago or perfect insect. The genus 

 Acry'dium belongs to this group. These last Orthop'tene have 



Fig. 34. LARVA OF GRASSHOPPER. 



on each side of the first ring of the abdomen a kind of mem- 

 branous drum, by means of which they produce a sound, impro- 

 perly called their song. They are very common in fields; they 

 frequently assemble in countless multitudes, commonly known as 

 Migratory locusts, and in this way travel great distances ; the 



Fig. 35. GRASSHOPPER. 



passage of one of these destructive bands sometimes converts a 

 whole kingdom into a desert, in a very short period. This 

 scourge is more frequent in Africa, but the same species of locust 

 also shows itself in Europe. In certain countries of Africa, these 

 insects are eaten ; certain Asiatics, after drying and grinding 

 them, make them into bread. At Bagdad they are sold in the 

 market. 



