INSECTA—GRASSHOPPER 829 
THE GRASSHOPPER. 









ny 1——=—____ — || Sesser Se 
Sa eae EN 
Twat animal which is called the grasshopper with us, differs greatiy 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 
oest 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 pelly. 
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, 
aarrow, armed above and below by two serrated spines. The back isarmea 
with a strong buckler, to which the muscles of tue 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 reasun that all the 

’ Acridium. 
79 
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