The Chorus of the Forest 



mental performers, the same as the grasshopper, 

 loeiist, and katy-chd. 



These wings are attached back of the shoulders 

 and are so short they cover not more tlian the mid- 

 dle third of tile body. They are so very small, 

 music must be their greatest use. I do not l)elieve 

 they "woidd bear the Meight of the insects in flight, 

 but by spreading and beating them they might as- 

 sist in long lea])s. The remainder of their anat- 

 omy is complicated. Our ca])in cricket was smaller 

 and lighter bro-wn than its big, forest relatives, but 

 they appeared quite similar. Their outer covering 

 encases them as armor. Their eyes are prominent 

 and glittering, and help to gi\e them a clieerful, 

 alert appearance. 1 noticed that when traveling 

 undisturl)ed they liglitly touched oljjects l^efore 

 them with their long hair-fine antenuiu as if feel- 

 ing their way. On each side of the front section 

 of the bodies are a series of three short legs used 

 for walking, and just back of these the large, long 

 leg for leaping. 



On the floor, pottering over cricket history, 

 close to the fence, where the light ^\'as strong, I 

 made a ue^v acquaintance. Botanists may know 

 it well, but I am unal)le to place it in any of many 

 valuable works I own. This may be because I 

 found it in the fall, at berry-bearing time, and 

 they -^^'Ould describe it in bloom. But I have small 

 trouble in identifying other plants at any season. 



9.5 



