GRASSHOPPER, OR GRYLLUS CAMPESTRIS. 139 
the roots of grass ; the excavation is most 
curiously rounded and smoothed, and 
is made by means of its strong jaws, 
which are serrated, or toothed, like a 
lobster's claws. 
Lucy, Do they pinch with these 
jaws ? 
Mother, They seem perfectly harm- 
less when held in the hand ; but they 
defend their dwellings from otiier grass- 
hoppers with great spirit. Their singing 
noise is not made by the mouth, but by 
chafing the elytra together. Two grass- 
hoppers have been known to vie with 
each other in the duration and shrillness 
of their song ; and when unable to decide 
the contest, to have flown to arms, and 
fought till one of the combatants was 
killed. 
Lucy, Well, I never should have 
thought of grasshoppers fighting duels. 
Mother, In spring they begin to 
creep from their underground cells, and 
are then usually in their pupa state, with 
the wings folded under a transparent 
