86 GENERAL ZOOLOGY 



even to the picturing of midribs, veins, and other fine 

 details. 



Suppose, though, that our stupid grasshopper's simple 

 wiles are of no avail, and that it is caught by an enemy. 

 It does not give up without a struggle kicks, and strains 

 to the best of its powers in efforts to escape. If it is held 

 by only one leg this appendage is kicked free from his body 

 and gladly left in the enemy's hands. It is a small matter 

 for a young grasshopper to lose a leg; somewhat inconven- 

 ient for a time, perhaps, but no serious consequences result. 

 A new leg is formed beneath the exoskeleton and becomes 

 functional at the next moult. An adult grasshopper, 

 however, cannot grow new legs. 



Often when captured, in the excitement of the resulting 

 struggle, a grasshopper forms great quantities of the brown 

 " molasses. " or crop secretion, which drools from the mouth. 

 Such secretory activity is somewhat comparable to the 

 formation of " cold sweat " on the skin of man during. certain 

 emotional states. In the present instance, the molasses 

 sometimes serves a useful purpose by making the grass- 

 hopper distasteful to the animal holding it captive. 



Grasshoppers are comparatively soft-bodied and of good 

 flavor. They are hence sought for food by a great number 

 of animals, even including man in some parts of the world. 

 They are not even safe when they settle down to rest at 

 the close of a day, for the night-prowling skunk esteems 

 grasshoppers a great delicacy, and seeks them out during 

 the night. In his work on the Orthoptera of Indiana, 

 Blatchley lists forty-nine birds which feed upon grasshoppers 

 in that state. Chief among these are hawks, blackbirds, 

 crows, bluejays, prairie chickens, mocking birds, and blue- 

 birds. Many snakes feed very largely on grasshoppers, and 

 their sly habits make them hard to avoid. Toads, frogs, 

 and some fish also prey upon these insects when the oppor- 

 tunity offers. Moles and shrews eat the eggs laid by grass- 

 hoppers underground. 



