y.-rw'* 
corselet is elevated, narrow, armed above, and be¬ 
neath by two serrated spines. The back is armed 
with a strong buckler, to which the muscles of tho 
legs aro (irmly bound, and round these muscles 
are seen the vessels by which the animal breathes, 
as white as snow. It has three pairs of legs, the 
last pair much stronger made than the others. It 
has four wings, the anterior oues springing from 
the second pair of legs, tho posterior from the 
third pair. Tho belly is considerably large,—it 
has eight rings, and terminated by a forky tail, 
covered with down. It very strongly resembles a 
ruminant animal in its internal conformation; 
possessing, aa it does, three stomachs like a cow. 
When it is able to “ go alone," as in tho case of 
human creatures, then it commences its career of 
courting, and fills the air with its lovc-notos. It 
is a very musical little creature—that is, the male, 
for the female is never vocal. On examining one 
at the base of tho wings, there will bo noticed a 
little hole in Its body, covered with a transparent 
membrane. This was thought by that great Natu¬ 
ralist, Charles Von LinnvkUS, to bo the instru¬ 
ment it employed in singing; blit others have 
supposed tho sound to ho produced by rubbing its 
hinder legs against each other. Truly', a weary 
way of making love. It is asserted by writers 
upon the subject, whether truthfully or otherwise 
I know not, having never witnessed anything of 
tho kind, that mortal combats are not uncommon 
between members of the sterner sex, when crossed 
in love. (0, grasshopper! O, man! — how alike 
ye are.) 
Toward tho approach of cold weather, the 
female prepares to deposit her burthen, and her 
body is then seen greatly distended with her eggs, 
which she carries to the number sometimes of 
150. In order to make a proper lodgment in the 
earth for them, nature has furnished her with an 
instrument at her tail, somewhat resembling a 
two-edged sword, which she can sheathe and 
unsheathe at pleasure; with this she pierces the 
earth as deep aa she is able; and into tho hole 
which her instrument has made, she deposits her 
eggs, one after the other. 
lbled in valuo. “Good," said I. “But, 
he added, “it is not becanse I care for 
my pocket i9 father of the wish.” 
Yours, &c., s - K - 
AN INSIBE LOOK A r L’ CHINA 
TH|Jg 4VgLER. 
A wet morning—Order of meals — Dinner, its import¬ 
ance — Sea-sickness—Ocean Islands — Climate in the 
Caribbean Sea I low matters jog, tfC. 
Steamship “Atlantic,” Junuiry 23, 1860. 
Tuesday morning was ushered in attended by 
murky clouds and weeping skies. April never 
gave birth, in the Empire State, to a finer shower 
At eleven, 
ped from its face tho dusky clouds and 
[Special Correspondence of Monro’s Rural New-Yorker ] 
A TRIP TO CALIFORNIA, 
than did January, on this occasion, 
the slcy \vi_ 
falling tears, and robed itBclf in gay attire. The 
day was lovely to the end. 
The order of meals, on shipboard, is as follows: 
Tho second-class passengers breakfast at 7,—dine 
at 1,—and take tea at 6 o’clock. Tbe first cabin 
passengers breakfast at 0,— dine at 4,— and take 
tea at 7) o'clock. The children and nurses of 
first and second-class passengers take their meals 
immediately after the second-class have left the 
tables. All cat in the same dining-room, and all 
have substantially tbe same food, the only differ¬ 
ence is, that the first cabin passengers are .treated 
to a few more luxuries, hut as they pay $50 more 
for their passage, they are doubtless entitled to 
this difference. The steerage passengers cat 
standing, at tables swung breast, high. Hard sea- 
biscuit, cold, boiled salt beef and vegetables, with 
tea and coffee, make up their bill of fare. As 
they pay but $50 for their three weeks board and 
lodging, the Company, after tho railroad charges 
and San Francisco taxes have been paid, retain 
only about eight dollars, for which, it is hardly 
fair to look for princely bedding or Aldermanic 
dinners. 
Tho Bleeping apartments of the first and second 
cabins differ somewhat. In the former nothing 
was left to be sensibly desired. In tho latter, 
Departure from A 'em York — Parting with friends - Sab¬ 
bath at Sea — Personages on board —An Evening on 
Deck— Sunset at Sea— Statistics of the " Atlantic ”— 
Debate with two Champions of Southern Rights. 
Steahrk “ Att.axtic ,” January 25, I860. 
To the tourist, standing upon the hurricane 
deck of a first-class steamship, taking its depart¬ 
ure from New York harbor, for Aspinwull, is pre¬ 
sented a scene of Intense and thrilling interest.— 
At the announced hour for tho clearage of tho 
gallant Atlantic, the dock was literally packed 
with passengers and their friends, who had come 
down to exchange farewells, and bestow their 
blessing 
MOUNT AIN SCENERY. 
The mountain scenery of China is remarkable 
for its sublimity and variety of beauty. Tho lofti¬ 
est mountains in tbe world are those which in¬ 
close the high table-lands of Thibet and Tartary, 
from which tho mighty rivers in China take their 
rise, and which seem, by a violent effort or con¬ 
vulsion, to have rent their giant barriers, to make 
a way for the fertilizing waters to flow through. 
They present, in some instances, the most jagged 
and irregular features, as if thrown into their 
present shape by sorao sudden and terrible con¬ 
vulsion; and yet they are almost everywhere cov¬ 
ered with verdure, and brought, under cultivation 
by a numerous and industrious population. All 
the prominent points along the water-cour8CP,and 
among the promontories and ravines of the 
mountains, are made more prominent by some 
kind of ornamental structure, as if in commemo¬ 
ration of some important event which had traus- 
pired there. A fanciful areb.a pagoda, or a tower 
of curious construction, will present itself here 
andthore, as you pass along. They have no in¬ 
scriptions, and seem generally, with the excep¬ 
tion of tho pagodas, to have no purpose but that 
of ornament. They are all so light and fantastic 
in their forms and decorations, that they impart a 
gay and cheerful aBpect to the surrounding scen¬ 
ery, and seem to say, that the people enjoy life, 
cultivate a graceful taste, and find something 
more to do than merely toil for a living, or grub 
for wcuith. 
But the vast territory of China is even more re¬ 
markable for broad, fertile and beautiful plains, 
in extent and productiveness, than 
upon father, brother, friend, or lover, 
about to leave their native shores for California, 
or Oregon, on the Pacific coast. The length of 
the sea voyage, (nearly twice that from New York 
to Liverpool.) its perils and incidents, and the 
fact that many were parting, not to meet again in 
long, long years, if ever, set hundreds of eyes 
afloat, and caused thousands of hearts to pulsato 
with sorrowful affections. 
After an hour of intense hurry and bustle, the 
baggage was all transferred from the dock to the 
ship, and tho bell announced her immediate de¬ 
parture. Slowly she bore away, causing a thou¬ 
sand eyes to glisten and (lout sorrowfully in their 
watery beds, and many an invocation went up to 
Gon for his preserving care, to follow and attend 
departing friends. When the ship was fairly 
afloat, she tired three heavy gnns, at intervals of 
some five minutes, thus signalizing the event— 
Now commenced a scone of telegraphic exchanges 
between those on ship and their friends on shore. 
The waving of white handkerchiefs commenced, 
and continued between the parlies, until those we 
left appeared like children in size, and their hand¬ 
kerchiefs like tho tremulous motion of tho "silver 
leaf" in an autumn day. I had anticipated the 
falling tear aud farewell sigh, but the impressive 
language of these farewell signals was no leaa in¬ 
teresting than novel, to me. Though their utter¬ 
ances were mortal, they seemed angelic and di¬ 
vine, and wo oonfess, over since, our conviction 
to more exalted views of tho true dignity of hu¬ 
man nature. 
For twenty-four hours and more, every passen¬ 
ger suffered from the cold. After wo entered the 
gulf stream, the weather was mild and bland.— 
The third day out (Sunday,) wo had no use for 
overcoats or shawls, aud, except a slight shower 
at 10 A M., the weather was delightful. At 11 
o’clock, Rev. Mr. M ai-i.rs, (Episcopal,) of Long 
Island, going to his charge in Oregon, held divine 
service in the dining-room. It was conducted in 
an impressive and solemn manner, and 1 felt 
thankful for this means of grace. Rev. R. Lewis, 
Chaplain of the U. S. Navy, was on board, return¬ 
ing to the tvar frigate Lancaster, his ship of labor. 
He has held a Chaplaincy for twenty-one years, 
and is, I Judge, well constituted to deal with sailor 
character. General II arran, a minister from one 
of the Booth American States, (New Granada,) 
wus on board. Two gentlemen from St. Louis, 
Having now outlived 
the Divine purpose of her existence in provid¬ 
ing for the continuation Of her posterity, the 
animal hetsclf docs not long survive, but dies 
from the effects of ago, of severe frosts, or total 
decay. The eggB that were deposited in the 
ground continue unaltered, notwithstanding tho 
inclemency of winter weather, unless of unusual 
severity. They aro described us being of an oval 
figure, whito, and of tlie consistence of horn; 
their size nearly equals that Of a grain of anise; 
they are enveloped in the body within a covering, 
branched all over with veins and arteries,— 
and when excluded, they crack on being pressed 
between the fingers. Their substance within is a 
whitish, viscous, and transparent fluid. Gene¬ 
rally, about the month of May, every egg produces 
an insect, about the size of a flea, of a whitish 
color; in a few days they tarn black; and 
again turn in few days to a reddish-brown. They 
have tho appearance of grasshoppers without 
wings, and hop about in the grass with great 
activity. They are riot, however, without wiugs, 
the tropics get uncomfortably hot. T should have 
said that each porsou has his (numbered) scat at 
at the tabic, and, consequently, there is no hurry 
nor confusion, for a few minutoa delay does not 
deprive you of your rights. This is an excellent 
arragement. Dinner is taken very quietly by the 
first caldners, — about one hour and a half is 
usually spent in the affair, and the tables are as 
well furnished, supplied and attended, as at al¬ 
most any first class hotel. 
The sea-sickness that passengers dread so ranch 
in advance, is ft good deal of ft humbug. We will 
not say it is altogether so. For the first forty- 
eight hours scores were put upon the sea-sick list. 
The men who were stalwart enough to endure tho 
cold, and keep on deck, partially escaped, but the 
ladies and children, who kept below, suffered and 
magnificent 
Begin Now!— If yon arc resolving to leave off 
an injurious habit, begin now. If you would 
commence a new modo of performing your daily 
labor in search of a plan improvement, or a more 
rigid scheme of application for mental culture,— 
begin lo-day. While your resolution is sound, is 
the most auspicious time to break off from the 
accustomed coarse, and start anew on a voyage 
of experimental reform. Delays stnpify tho 
mind, weaken the firm resolves of the heart, 
and hedge up the ways which are now open and 
free, when a little present action might easily 
introduce you on the desirable and elevating 
course of prosperity and happiness. There are 
thousands of. laudable schemes awaiting the 
happy originator for advancement of every kind, 
which aro to he sought for and searched out by 
experimental labor, in order to be found existing 
in the great field of reason and nature equally 
accessible to all. o. 
XINS1IAN, OR THE GOI.DEN ISLAND, 
death, were their almost invariable and constant 
followers. 
Okasius, a learned Spanish ecclesiastic, who 
flourished in the fifth century, and who wrote a 
history under the title of “ Miseria Humana,” tells 
us that in the year A. M. 3,800, there were an 
incredible number of locusts which infested Af¬ 
rica; and after having eaten up everything that 
was green, they flew off, and were drowned in the 
GRASSHOPPERS—HISTORY, DESCRIPTION, &c. 
Of all the pests that feed on and destroy the 
product of man’s industry, and their name is 
legion, the worst and most destructive are the 
grasshoppers. Wretched is that district that suf¬ 
fers from their ravages. Great is their havoc in 
the meadows and pastures. They often feed off 
more pasture tliau the entire stock kept by the 
fanner; they strip the trees of their foliage and 
the trardens of their beauty. The devastation 
Wax Fruit.— Trimming Bird Cages. — Will 
you, or some of your many readers, please inform 
me of the method of making max fruit? I would 
also like to have some one give me the directions 
for trimming a case for stuffed birds. I have seen 
some that wore trimmed with colored grass and 
leaves, hut could not ascertain how they were 
prepared. Perhaps the gentleman who gave the 
directions for preserving birds, Ac., in 1858, could 
give the desired information; if so, he will 
greatly oblige—G. F. A., Palmyra, N. Y., 1860. 
there is other life-than we carry. All had passed 
bravely their sea-sickness, except those nervous 
ones, who would sicken at a tempest in a tea-pot. 
One universal appetite rose up like a giant and 
haggled at nothing set before it. 
All goes well, only the diminished ballasting of 
coal permits a little more pitching than the ladies 
deem agreeable. But, I have a hit of advice to 
give those going to California, relative to their 
baggage, the treatment of which, by the Com¬ 
pany, is considered by passengers an unmitigated 
bora. As my sheet is already full, I will defer it 
until my next. Yours, Ac., & b. u. 
It is a most wicked thing for a man with great 
capacities to go out of the active affairs of life in 
the full strength of manhood, and refuso to have 
any participation in the events of time which he 
secs go thundering on. We were born for active 
labor from the beginning to the end of life. And 
blessed is that man the ring of whose harness is 
heard when ho falls; blessed is that man who dies 
with his sword in his hand; blessed is that man 
who, when he dies, is mailed from head to foot, 
and in the field. 
Truth is the most powerful thing in the world, 
since even fiction itself must be governed by it, 
and can only please by resemblance. The appear¬ 
ance of reality is necessary to make any passion 
agreeably represented; and to be able to move 
others, we must be moved ourselves, or at least 
seem to be so, upon some probable grounds. 
both gentlemen are from Missouri. A a might be 
expected, wc have had several back-hold hugs on 
the vexed question of slavery. In my last wrestle j 
one of these gentlemen so far yielded tbe bone of 
contest, as to exclaim, “Well, I would give $20,- 
000 if Missouri was a free State to-day,” for, he 
added, “My lands would, in that event, be imme- 
