202 HALF-HOURS IN THE GREEN LANES. 



all the summer night through, but its agility and 

 colour render it difficult to be caught at any other 

 time than the morning, when it appears to be 

 resting from its labours. The great green grass- 

 hopper is capable of being to a great extent tamed, 

 but the legs have a curious way of rotting at the 



Fig. 147. 



Gryllus viridissima. 



joints, and of falling off, unless care be taken with 

 it. It is a sad enemy to the plant-lice, which it 

 will devour by hundreds. It is also very pugnacious 

 and cannibal, and if you place half a dozen together 

 under the same glass it will not be long before they 

 make " Kilkenny cats " of each other ! The eggs 

 still further carrj out the "mimicry" which is so 



