140 NATURAL HISTORY READER. 



seizes his prey. He is essentially a carnivorous feeder, and 

 pounces stealthily upon any unwary insect that settles 

 within convenient reach, seizing the victim between his 

 upraised legs, and fixing it there between the row of 

 spikelets with which these prehensile limbs are fringed. 

 After a deliberate inspection of the morsel held in this 

 position, he goes to work with his jaws." 



Science Monthly. 



THE KATYDID. 



1. I love to hear thine earnest voice, 



Wherever thou art hid, 

 Thou testy little dogmatist, 



Thou pretty katydid ! 

 Thou mindest me of gentlefolks — 



Old gentlefolks are they — 

 Thou say'st an undisputed thing 



In such a solemn way. 



2. Thou art a female katydid, 



I know it by the trill 

 That quivers through thy piercing notes, 



So petulant and shrill. 

 I think there is a knot of you 



Beneath the hollow tree — 

 A knot of spinster katydids — 



Do katydids drink tea ? 



3. Dear me ! I'll tell you all about 



My fuss with little Jane, 

 And Ann, with whom I used to walk 

 So often down the lane ; 



