i8o THE BOOK OF NATURE STUDY 



in heaps of decaying vegetation. The eggs are laid in the spring, 

 and hatch out in a few weeks' time. The female watches ovef 

 her eggs, and collects them again into a heap if they are disturbed. 

 There is no metamorphosis, for the young resemble the adult in 

 general form, but have no wings, nor are the forceps of the same 

 shape, nor the number of antennal joints so great. They grow 

 rapidly, moulting the skin three or four times, and by August of 

 the same year have attained to maturity. The female is said to 

 evince some affection for her young, but on this point there is 

 contradictory evidence. In fact, in spite of this insect being 

 so very common, comparatively little is known of its life-history, 

 and the opportunity is open for some one to fill in the large gaps 

 in our knowledge. 



BIBLIOGRAPHY. Burr, British Orthoptera ; Cambridge Natural History, 

 . ol. v. 



