
















114 THE SONGS OF THE GRASSHOPPERS. 
clearly, one must bring his ear to within a few feet, or even 
inches of the insect during its stridulation, —a process which — 
requires great caution lest the shyness of the little violinist — 
should overcome his egotistic love of song. The observer — 
must walk quietly toward the sound until it ceases, and wait l 
motionless for its renewal ; the direction of the chirping can ; 
then easily be determined, although its distance is deceptive. — 
After drawing an imaginary line towards the spot from 
whence the sound proceeds, cautious steps must be taken — 
around the are of a wide circle until another line is fixed at 
right angles to the first, and the location of the songster ap- 3 
proximately determined. Then walking quickly but quietly 
to within five or six feet of the insect, the observer will fall _ 
upon his hands and knees, and produce a quill edge and file, 
which, on being rubbed together, imitate, with great exact- 
ness, the desired note. He will commence his mock strid- 
ulation after a short delay; at first the sounds must be l 
subdued and separated by considerable intervals, then loud, — 
and repeated in quick succession ; usually a response i 
heard before a minute has elapsed, and sometimes it comes _ 
at once. When the insect has forgotten his fears and begins 
to stridulate violently, the observer may cease operations — 
and carefully approach him. In this way one can place | 
himself within a few inches of any species living in the | 
grass. : 
surface of the wing-covers. The insects which employ t 
fourth method stridulate during flight, —the others while at 
rest. To the first group belong the Crickets ; to the second 
