The Life of the Grasshopper 



rammer. It is outside at last and rests for 

 a moment, to recover from all that fatigue. 

 Then, suddenly, under the thrust of the 

 throbbing blister, the temporary jacket splits. 

 The rags are pushed back by the hind-legs, 

 which are the last to strip. The thing is 

 done : the creature is free, pale in colouring 

 as yet, but possessing the final larval form. 

 Then and there, the hind-legs, hitherto 

 stretched in a straight line, adopt the regula- 

 tion position; the legs fold under the great 

 thighs ; and the spring is ready to work. It 

 works. Little Locust makes his entrance into 

 the world and hops for the first time. I offer 

 him a bit of lettuce the size of my finger- 

 nail. He refuses. Before taking nourish- 

 ment, he must first mature and develop for 

 a while in the sun. 



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