The Chorus of the Forest 



those beneath the oat.s scouts searching for food; 

 the army ^vas around decaying wood and behjw 

 dee}) hiyers of leaves on the floor oi' the forest. 



In a glittering black mass tliey poui'cd out by 

 the thousand when disturbed; some in their haste 

 leaped upon the backs of those in front and ran 

 over them. Of course, I kno^v there are differing 

 species of the cricket family that choose suitable 

 locations. I am merely stating that the largest, 

 most 2>rosperous branch in the whole world Hacs in 

 the forest. 



When I made this study grasshoppers sang 

 around the fence, and many strayed to the interior, 

 so that their notes came almost constantly; but l)y 

 close listening you could distinguish fractions of 

 a second wjien tlieir voices were silent. JNIany 

 katy-dids homed there and boasted much of the 

 pro^\'ess of their ancestors. I^ocusts ansA\'ere(l each 

 other in rapid succession, but you could sc])arate 

 the call from the answer. To tlie "Chirr-r-r-r-r!" 

 of the crickets there was no beginning and never 

 the hint of an ending. jNIillions of these shining, 

 black-coated little musicians sang in concert and 

 unceasingly. There Avas no question ])ut their 

 voices formed the dominant insect note of the 

 forest. 



Crickets are not compatible ^vith good house- 

 keeping because they cut fabrics. But of all in- 

 sects peojjle tolerate them most. One little piece 



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