184 
LETTERS FROM ALABAMA. 
is a transparent membrane, which appears tightly 
stretched over a semi-circular rim, like the parch- 
' ment of a drum, and which, no doubt, increases 
the sound by its vibrations. The insect I found 
would creak freely^ when held in the fingers, pro- 
vided it were held by the thorax or head, so as to 
allow the hemelytra free power of motion ; though 
these are only partially opened, the bases being a 
little separated without affecting the position of the 
whole. But for the well-known fact, that the 
males alone of these creatures are musical, I should 
have supposed the specimen I have been describing 
to be a female, for the extremity of the abdomen 
was furnished with a large sword-shaped organ 
curving upwards, resembling an oviduct. I pre- 
sented to it some house-flies, which it readily took 
from my fingers, and devoured with great gusto, 
though I should apprehend its diet, in a state of 
nature, must be wholly vegetable. I had an oppor- 
tunity of comparing the sexes together, for last 
evening a female flew in at my open window. I 
can find little difference between it and the former, 
except that it entirely wants the membranous 
drum, and glassy ridge at the base of the front 
wings ; this part, which has the same form, and 
which laps over in the same manner as in the 
other sex, is of exactly the same texture, colour, 
and general appearance as the rest of the heme- 
lytra. 
It is a trite observation, but not the less wonder- 
ful, that habit renders us insensible to the agree- 
able or disagreeable qualities of those sensations 
which we are constantly experiencing ; when the 
Katedids commenced their nocturnal serenades, I 
found it impossible to sleep, and bewailed my 
