The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1885-02-07
- THE KATYDlD.



In the chronological Kingdom.
A veteran weather observer of Nor
wich, Conn, says: .'The meteorologi-
cal eccentricities this season have COM
pletely nonplussed and stultified us.
Even the believers in weather saws
have seen their pet sayings confuted.
For instance, there is no more trust
worthy or generally accepted weather
sign. than the old country saying that.
the first fall of snow will occur exactly,
six weeks after the first katydidis heard.
Sometimes its note is first sounded late
in July, and oftener not until the first
or second week in August, but whether
it is in July or August, the old saw is
almost invariably verified. Sometimes
the first will fall two or three days
earlier and sometimes two or three days
later, but always near enough to the
predicted time to make the omen q
wonderful and reliable one.
This year the first katydids in this
part of the country were heard on the
night of August IA, and less than two
weeks later, in the last week of the
same month, there were two heavy
frosts that did much damage through
out New England. Some wise men
think that it is the first appearance of
the fall cricket, and not of the katydid,
that is the precursor of frost six weeks
later. But there is no satisfaction in
taking that view this season, as the first
fall cricket appeared a week earlier
than the katydid-On the evening of
August T."
The katydid is one of the most curl.
Gus and interesting insects in the ento-
biological kingdom. In its habits it is
exceedingly clannish, and its predilec-
ton for certain localities and apparent
distaste for others that seem to be equally
eligible and inviting are inexplicable.
. Year after year it appears in uncounted
numbers among the trees in the locality
it affects, while quarter of mile
away, in place equally embowered,
not a note is ever heard, except perhaps
of an insect that has strayed away from
the crowd and is gradually winging its
way back. In Hartford, and in all the
cities of New England whose streets are
bOrdered by trees, there are certain
avenues that resound half the night with
the harsh, clocking concerts of innumer-
able katydids, while on the next thor
oughfare, though it offers every induce
ment in the way of foliage, not katy
did is heard
The same popularity of the insects is
noticeable also in the woods, there being
certain quarters that they frequent in
armies and others that they persistently
avoid. The fall cricket, which
in appearance seems to be distant
relative of the katydid, is evidently
not strongly marked by the bump
of locality, eyincing no fastidiousness in
the choice of a singing box. 1t takes its
place in tall tuft of grass or on the
highest bough of an elm with equal in
difference. 1t is solitary insect, avoid
ing crowds and singing exclusively for
the entertainment and solace CT its
equally lonely and melancholy mate.
Its note is sad and mournful, seemingly
droning negation in the debate, '.Is
life worth livingP"
The katydid is a native of this conti-
nent. 1t is sort of a night grasshop-
per, though. of a purer, paler green,
more slender of body and more ethereal
in its general expression. Its organ of
sound is a transparente elastic membrane,
in strong oval frame in each of the
wing covers. These membranes, by the
overlapping of the wing covers, can be
made to rub against one another, and
the sound is produced by the friction.
The concert begins at evening twilight,
becomes most clamorous about nine or
ten o'clock, and ends at midnight. Oc-
casionally solitary drowsy clack may
be heard an hour or two later. The ka-
tydid does not sing constantly; the notes
follow each other in rapid succession for
few moments, after which there is
pause of two or three minutes.
delphia Call