
L ELS 
AMERICAN NATURALIST. 
Vol. II.—MAY, 1868.— No, 3. 
ecce TORITO 
THE SONGS OF THE GRASSHOPPERS. 
BY S8. H. SCUDDER. 

ALTHOUGH every one is familiar with the 
notes of birds, few can distinguish the differ- 
ent chirpings of insects, or are eyen aware 
that every kind of Grasshopper has its distinc- 
tive note. The songs of insects are neither 
so varied nor complicated as those of birds, 
but their study presents peculiar difficulties. 
Sounds become inaudible to many persons 
when they are derived from vibrations more 
rapid than 25,000 per second, and when the 
number reaches 38,000, the limit of human 
2 perceptibility is attained: thus, the shrill- 
>. ness of a note may prove a hinderance to 
its study. This is illustrated by Tyndall in 
his recent book on Sound. He writes: “Crossing the Wen- 
gern Alp with a friend, the grass on each side of the path 
swarmed with insects, which, to me, rent the air with their 
shrill chirruping. My friend heard nothing of this, the in- 
sect world lying beyond his limit of audition.” 
Another and universal obstacle lies in the delicacy or 
feebleness of the notes of some species ; to distinguish them 
aeaea a AEA EN 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1868, rnd 5 print nt OF 
SCIENCE, in the Clerk's Office of the District agit of the District of 
15 
ATURALIST, VOL. IL. 18) 
