MUS. COMP. ZOOL 
library 
Published monthly by The Agassiz Association, ArcAdiA: Sound beach, Connecticut. 
Subscription, SI. 50 a year Single copy, 15 cents 
Entered as Second-Class Matter June 12, 1909, at Sound Beach Post Office, under Act of March 3, 1897. 
Acceptance for mailing at special rate of postage provided for in Section 1103, Act of October 3, 1917, 
authorized on June : 27, 1918. 
Volume XIII. 
OCTOB ER, 1920 
Number 5 
THE FALL CRICKET. 
Written under the trees near ArcAdiA. 
How many of those who enjoy lis- 
tening to the “lonely” chirp of the fall 
cricket at this season of the year have 
noticed just what effect the tempera- 
ture has on this little songster? There 
must be many who have not, for dili- 
gent inquiry for many years among 
friends and acquaintances has failed to 
find one who had ever done so. The 
writer discovered it only by accident, 
and does not wish to claim it as the 
result of exhaustive scientific research. 
It is a fact, however, that the little 
body is a perfect thermometer more 
sensitive and accurate than many made 
of glass and quicksilver. I have always 
been fond of listening to the chirp, and 
for many years have noted the date on 
which the first one was heard — usually 
about the middle of August. To many 
people it means “six weeks to frost,” 
but this has its variations like most 
other signs relating to the weather. 
Some years ago. I decided to capture 
a cricket and take it into the house 
where I could listen to its music at 
short range. Like many other good 
resolutions it was more easilv made 
than kept. I soon found that the little 
By Ethan O. Smith, New York City. 
green grasshopper is very shy indeed 
and, as it lives among the tree tops and 
as a rule sings only at night, it is diffi- 
cult to see one and much more difficult 
to capture it. But success finally re- 
warded my efforts, and by following his 
chirp I saw for the first time how he 
does it. 
The little hopper is about an inch 
long exclusive of antennae. Its wings 
of light green gauze are just the shape 
of a snowshoe, and indeed under a mi- 
croscope, or rather a magnifying glass 
of low power, look very much like one. 
In “singing” the wings are raised to a 
vertical position over the back and then 
rubbed quickly together. The friction 
thus made causes the note or chirp 
which we hear with such rythmic pre- 
cision all through the lengthening even- 
ings of autumn. 
After a number of unsuccessful at- 
tempts I finally captured my little 
songster, took him into the house and 
put him in a bunch of golden-rod. Then 
I listened for hours but he steadfastly 
refused to sing. I came to the conclu- 
sion that he did not feel like singing in 
captivity, for which he could not be 
Copyright 1920 by The Agassiz Association, ArcAdiA: Sound Beach. Conn. 
