INSECTA — GRASSHOPPER 829 



THE GRASSHOPPER 



That animal which is called the grasshopper with us, differs greatly from 

 the cicada of antiquity ; for, as our insect is active enough in hopping 

 through the long grass, whence it has taken its name, the cicada had not 

 this power, but either walked or flew. The little hissing note also of our 

 grasshopper is very different from the song of the cicada, which was louder 

 and far more musical. 



Of this variegated tribe, the little grasshopper^ that breeds in such plenty 

 in every meadow, and that continues his chirping through the summer, is 

 best known to us ; and, by having its history, we shall be possessed of that 

 of all the rest. This animal is of the color of green leaves, except a line of 

 brown which streaks the back, and two pale lines under the belly, and 

 behind the legs. It may be divided into the head, the corselet, and the belly. 

 The head is oblong, regarding the earth, and bearing some resemblance to 

 that of a horse. Its mouth is covered by a kind of round buckler jutting 

 over it, and armed with teeth of a brown color, hooked at the points. 

 Within the mouth is perceivable a large reddish tongue, fixed to the lower 

 jaw. The feelers, or horns, are very long, tapering on to a point, and the 

 eyes are like two black specks, a little prominent. The corselet is elevated, 

 narrow, armed above and below by two serrated spines. The back is armed 

 with a strong buckler, to which the muscles of the legs are firmly bound ; 

 and round these muscles are seen the vessels by which the animal breathes, 

 as white as snow. The last pair of legs are much longer and stronger than 

 the first two pair, fortified by thick muscles, and very well formed for leap- 

 ing. It has four wings ; the anterior ones springing from the second pair of 

 legs, the posterior from the third pair. The hinder wings are much finer 

 and more expansive than the foremost, and are the principal instruments of 

 its flight. The belly is considerably large, composed of eight rings, and 

 terminated by a forky tail, covered with down, like the tail of a rat. When 

 examined internally, besides the gullet, we discover a small stomach ; and 

 behind that a very large one, wrinkled and furrowed withinside; lower 

 down there is still a third ; so that it is not without reason that all the 



1 Acridium. 



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