288 
NATURAT. HISTORY. 
sand and all, into a ball, of which itself is the centre. This 
ball is about half an inch in diameter; and within it the 
insect resides, in an apartment sufficiently spacious for all its 
motions. The outside is composed of sand and silk ; the 
inside is lined with silk only, of a tine pearl colour, extremely 
delicate, and perfectly beautiful. But though the work is so 
curious within, it exhibits nothing to external appearance, 
but a lump of sand ; and thus escapes the search of birds, 
that might otherwise disturb the inhabitant within. 
The insect continues thus shut up tor six weeks or two 
months ; and gradually parts with its eyes, its feelers, its 
feet, and its skin ; all which are thrust into a corner of the 
inner apartment, like a rag. The insect then appears almost 
in its winged state, except that there is a thin skin which 
wraps up the wings, and which appears to be nothing else 
but a liquor dried on their outside. Still, however, the 
little animal is too delicate and tender to venture from its 
retreat ; but continues inclosed for some time longer : at 
length, when the members of this new insect have acquired 
the necessary consistence and vigour, it tears open its lodg- 
ing, and breaks through its wall. For this purpose it has 
two teeth, like those of grasshoppers, with which it eats 
through, and enlarges the opening till it gets out. Its body, 
which is turned like a screw, takes up no more than the 
space of a quarter of an inch ; but when it is unfolded, it 
becomes half an inch in length ; while its wings, that seemed 
to occupy the smallest space, in two minutes time unfold, 
and become longer than the body. In short, it becomes a 
large and beautiful fly, of the libella kind, with a long, 
slender body, of a brown colour ; a small head, with large 
bright eves, long slender logs, and four large, transparent, 
reticulated wings. The rest of its habits resemble that 
insect whose form it bears; except, that instead of drop- 
ping its eggs in the water, it deposits them in sand, where 
they are soon hatched into that rapacious insect, so justly 
admired for its method of catching its prey. 
The Grasshopper, the Locust, the Cricket, &c. 
That animal which iscalled the Grasshopper with us, differs 
greatly from the cicada of antiquity ; for as our insect is ac- 
tive enough in hopping through the long grass, whence it 
has taken its name, the cicada had not this power, but either 
walked or flew. The little hissing note also of our grass- 
hopper is very different from the song of the cicada, which 
was louder, and far more musical. 
Of this variegated tribe, the little Grasshopper, that breeds 
