396 NATURE SKETCHES IN TEMPERATE AMERICA 



The smaller bodied male flies much farther than the female, 

 usually when frightened from the ground. The faint familiar 

 crackling sound made by his wings while flying in a still 

 atmosphere is quite a reminder of hot sunny days in spring 

 and early summer. He is often stimulated by the warmth of 

 the sun into greater activity. He starts up occasionally in 

 short flights, from a few feet to several yards, finally ending 

 them by dropping back to the ground again. On windy days 

 the crackling of his wings, over which he seems to have some 

 control, may be scarcely audible to one's ears even at a short 

 distance away. The appellation "Quaker," given to this 

 species, is in allusion to the crackling sound made by these 

 Orthopterans. It was first described by Fabricius, in 1781, 

 under the caption of "Gryllus," which is the name retained 

 for our crickets now. 



This species ranges throughout that portion of the United 

 States and Canada east of the Rocky Mountains. I have 

 found it moderately common in such uncultivated places as 

 I have described, in the northern part of Illinois, Indiana, 

 and the southern part of Michigan. It matures early in the 

 spring; adults being found at Dune Park, Indiana, as early as 

 May ninth. It is often found in the larva and pupa stages 

 hibernating through the winter, under various kinds of debris, 

 old wood, and stumps. With them are associated the young 

 of the green-striped locust, Chortophaga viridisfasciata. On 

 June fifth I found adults at Miller, Indiana, in a variety of 

 places among the sand dunes. At one point it frequented 

 the sandy ground in the open woods, among such plants as 

 lupine, but selected a habitat covered with dried oak leaves. 

 At another locality it chose the border of a pond, where blue 

 flag and a sprinkling of dead leaves furnished the surroundings. 

 On this occasion females appeared very scarce, there being 

 about one individual to each dozen males examined during 

 the day's journey. It is barely possible the females kept hidden 

 by refusing to fly on account of being burdened by the eggs 

 contained in their bodies. 



A pale yellowish brown female, together with two males, 

 showing varieties, are shown in the photographic illustration. 

 The figure to the right shows a color form, which presents 



