14 WAYS OF THE SIX-FOOTED 



Surely a new interest attaches to this summer-day 

 song when we realize that it has pleased the human ear 

 since the dim age of Homer. The cicada's kettledrums 

 are perhaps the only musical instruments now in use 

 that have remained xmchanged through a thousand 

 centuries since they were first mentioned. 



The other of the insect love singers belong to the 

 order Orthoptera and are quite closely related to each 

 other. First among these are short-horned grass- 

 hoppers, although they are not so musical as some 

 of the other species. However, we find in this group 

 some veritable fiddlers. The long hind leg which is 

 roughened with short spines is used as a fiddle bow, and 

 is drawn across the wing cover, which acts the part of 

 the fiddle, and gives off certain notes. These are oiir 

 common grasshoppers and may be watched while fid- 

 dling if one has the patience and wariness. These 

 insects have found many admirers among the poets. 

 Leigh Hunt apostrophizes the grasshopper thus : — 



" Green little vaulter in the sunny grass 

 Catching your heart up at the feel of June> 

 Sole voice that's heard amid the lazy noon." 



And Keats writes thus : — 



" The poetry of earth is never dead ; 

 When all the birds are faint with the hot sun, 

 And hide in cooling trees, a voice will run 



