5IO 



Marvels of the Universe 



[/>•» /.'. J. U'tcis. 



THE HEARING ORGANS OF A 

 GRASSHOPPER. 



While it is iKe male Grasshopper who makes the 

 shrill sounds peculiar to them, it is the female who 

 possesses the best means of hearing the music. The 

 apparatus here shown belongs to the female of a 

 Natal Grasshopper. 



GRASSHOPPERS 



The Grasshopper is a common insect, of which there are 

 many kinds. In one respect it is a famihar as well as a 

 common, insect, for you cannot walk through the fields 

 in summer without becoming aware of his presence 

 beside you, seeing that he keeps up his shrill note all 

 the way, and appears to be keeping pace with your 

 walk. This, however, is only an illusion due to the 

 vast number of Grasshoppers that are in the field. One 

 calls, and another a foot or two away, answers, and so 

 the continued shrilling beside you gives the impression 

 that you have a musical attendant dogging j'our steps. 

 It is chieflv in this way that the Grasshopper is familiar 

 to people who are not naturalists. He is too lively and 

 elusive to be seen much, save by those who are deter- 

 mined to watch his ways. 



There are three points in the story of the Grass- 

 hopper that are worth pointing out as distinguishing 

 him from most other insects. These are, his admirable 

 jumping powers, his skill as a musician, and his re- 

 markable organs of hearing. 

 Although the life history of the Grasshopper may be found in most books, still little or no mention 



is made, still less ds\y explanation offered, as to its jumping apparatus and how it is used. When 



one comes to think of the powerful manner in which the little orthopteran leaps — especially con- 

 sidering the size of the insect — the omission is rather curious. 



Nature intends that the Grasshopper shall leap in a powerful manner, and accordingly, in the 



first place, modifies the internal arrangement of its body so as to lighten it. The hollow tubes which 



lead from the spiracles — or little holes 



in its bod3' through which it breathes 



— are very numerous indeed, it being 



said that they are more in number and 



larger in size than in the case of most 



insects ; but, besides this, certain air- 

 sacs or air-bladders are found in various 



parts of the body, which are for the 



purpose of hghtening it. But this, how- 

 ever, in no way explains the method of 



jumping and the special arrangement 



of limbs for so doing. 



On page 50S the Grasshopper is 



shown as it appears when compressed as 



a specimen. Attention is attracted not 



only to the large wings used to fly with 



and to assist the insect in alighting, but 



also to the special form of the legs, 



their anatomical construction being of 



a highh" interesting nature. 



[By R. J. Leicis. 

 A NATAL GRASSHOPPER. 



A beauliful insect. witK green body and wings reticulated with 

 yellow, bluish thighs 



and 



red jumping legs 



