278 3FDe Barton's 



reiterating the two notes of his refrain. It some- 

 times tires the listener, however, and a misogy- 

 nist might wonder if it is not the female who 

 sings. 



To compensate for the silence of the birds, 

 the insect world is shrilling con amore night and 

 day. So many instruments compose the or- 

 chestra that one is puzzled to place all the per- 

 formers. Loudest of all is the cicada's great 

 crescendo, overpowering the strumming of grass- 

 hoppers and droning of diurnal crickets. The 

 shrill of the common black cricket, produced by 

 rubbing his legs sharply together, consists of 

 three notes in rhythm, and is said to form always 

 a triplet in the key of B. Night is the morning 

 of the green leaf-cricket's day. At twilight or late 

 afternoon he begins his even-song in strong, well- 

 modulated notes, chanting continuously until 

 daylight. His chorus it is we hear so steadily, 

 commencing briskly in August, and uttered, now 

 fast, now slowly, according to the warmth or 

 coolness of the night. His voice is extremely 

 deceptive, appearing to proceed from almost any 

 place except the vine or tree overhead. A plaint- 

 ive, soothing song he sings, a song in keeping 

 with the season, pulsating with every change 

 from heat to cold, and finally subsiding to a 

 scarcely audible sob in late October. 



