ECOLOGY — INTERPRETATION OF ENVIRONMENT 337 



The Swordbearer 



What an opportunity awaits the interested observer in the 

 early days of August ! A walk through the nearest meadow can 

 hardly fail to make new acquaintances among the multitude 

 of insect denizens. Though the farmer's mower may have 

 deprived the earth of certain portions of the flora, the undaunted 

 observer finds the low and perpetually wet places, which the 

 scythe has avoided, rich in both floral and faunal treasures. 

 Perhaps in the midst of a field, or at the marshy roadside, the 

 blue flag, or the reeds, and the larger species of Polygonium with 

 pink flowers, along with other plants belonging to a like group, 

 will be found flourishing in luxuriance. Here the green meadow 

 grasshoppers swarm before one's footsteps, jumping in confusion, 

 especially when fording through the high herbage. Beyond, 

 in the vigorously growing timothy grass, a shrill sound is heard 

 from various places almost simultaneously. In the same envi- 

 ronment Orchelimum and the crickets are mixed in the medley, 

 which makes their notes at times almost indistinguishable. 



On listening carefully, one discerns a continuous, high- 

 pitched z-e-e — 3-i-p,- which is so shrill that it might easily 

 be mistaken for the note of a cricket. If one were fortunate 

 enough to trace the shrilling to its source, the pea-green songster 

 would be found secreted among the grass blades. His color is 

 a becoming shade against the same tinted background. What 

 a picture this cone-head katydid presents during the height of 

 his musical performance! In answering his rlval.s, his enthu- 

 siasm seems to rise to a supreme height, as signified by the 

 energy exercised in rubbing his outer wings together in rapid 

 vibration. Several feet away, a repetition of his orchestration 

 is heard in the grass, and again following the sound to its 

 source, its pretty counterpart is found. This experience may 

 be repeated a number of times, each time resulting in dis- 

 covering the whereabouts of new individuals. 



So thoroughly preoccupied is this second musician that 

 the long grasses may be cautiously parted for nearer inspection 

 without disturbing his stridulation. But what a change takes 

 place in his actions when a moment later he has detected 

 us. He takes an entirely different position. In perfect 



