512 



Marvels of the Universe 



Notice the spikes on this hind le^ of the Grasshopper, which 

 enable the creature to obtain a good purchase before jumping. — 



— The enlarged joints of the leg give greater power to the 

 jumper. — 



Photos 6i/] [£. /. Spina, F.R.M.S. 



THE JUMPING APPARATUS OF THE GRASS- 

 HOPPER. 



— while the fore feet are each provided with a strong pad to 

 reduce the shock of alighting. 



The two hind legs, or " jumping limbs," 

 can be seen to be veiy different in construc- 

 tion, both as to shape and strength, from the 

 remaining four limbs, termed " the alighting 

 legs." Take them at their commencement at 

 the trunk and note how plump these thighs are 

 — possessing muscles of the strongest descrip- 

 tion. The joint between this thigh and the next 

 portion — corresponding to our tibia, or lower 

 leg — is of great development too ; and careful 

 examination of the central illustration on this 

 page will show that this articulation is possessed 

 of several ribs or strengthening bands, doubtless 

 to give it additional rigidity. The tibia, a long 

 and thin tubular-like limb which passes from 

 the knee to the ankle, is provided with very 

 pronounced spikes arranged in a double row on 

 its posterior part and which appear very firmly 

 attached to the main structure. The first 

 photograph on this page shows these spikes 

 which are used for the powerful leap, where the 

 leverage required is very great. To bring this 

 about, the insect places the tibia of each leg 

 with its spikes on the ground, well underneath 

 its body, so as to get a very strong grip before 

 using all its full strength to make a powerful 

 spring. It is obvious that the spikes must be 

 exceedingly strong, for the strain on them at the 

 moment of springing must be very sensible, 

 and it would be fatal for these hmbs to slip, 

 for all purchase being gone, the insect would 

 fail to move. 



On turning now to the last picture on this 

 page, and looking at these alighting legs, their 

 difference is easily apparent. They are quite 

 lightly made, and one would think not nearly 

 strong enough for their object. This, indeed, 

 would be the case, were it not that in the act 

 of alighting the wings play such an important 

 part. The end of each leg is the most attrac- 

 tive feature of the limb, for it will be seen, 

 when highly magnified as in our illustration, 

 that it consists of a double hook, and also what 

 appears to be a very large and pronounced pad. 

 Each pad is globular in form and so strongly 

 stuffed as to resist any attempts at thinning or 

 reducing in size whilst being prepared for a 

 microscopical specimen, which so commonly 

 occurs with other parts of insects whilst 



