Waterbury evening Democrat., 1889-09-13
MIR. AND MRS. KATYDID.
The Amusing Antics of a Couple
 Of "Grasshopper Birds"

The Amusing Antics Of a Couple of "Grasshopper Birds"
 The Little Green Lady Cots Into . HuN
 and Coos on by Herself, Deaf and
 Blind to tho Anectionate Appeals
 of Her Contritc Spouse.
 Recently little girl in this village found katydid in her bedroom, writes Lake wood N. J.) correspondent of the Now York Sun. She endeavored to cultivate it's acquaintance, but it escaped. She had, however, become sufficiently interested in the ''grasshopper bird" to lead her to de- termine to capture another. Her efforts were so successful that she succeeded in catching two of the family, 8 male and fe- male. These she has now had some two weeks, and they have been very interesting companions not only for herself, but for the entire household as well. When first caught the katydids were kept in a jardin- iore of nearly their own color, and over them was drawn piece of mosquito netting to prevent their departure. In the jardin- iere were placed some green twigs, upon which they sit, silent through the day, but musical as soon as the evening comes.
 At nightfall the roof of their house IS re- moved and they come out ID single file, tho male invariably preceding the female. When they were first caged they were strangers, and did not talk at all kindly to each other, but after two days they became well acquainted, and are now as loving as 8 newly-married couple. When coming out of the jardiniere the male walks in 8 state ly way, beating time with his taborets, to which the lady keeps step. From their domicile they walk across the table, upon which 1t rests, to @ bit of white paper. On h hio r1o fHryO olicoo of han md few sugared whortleberries. When they get near the fruit the female closes the distance between herself and her better half, but never ventures to take the lead. The fruit reached, both begin eating voraciously, the male still keeping up his chatter, but at longer intervals. Generally they make meal of the banana, but oc- casionally they eat of the berries, when only the outer skin of this fruit is eaten, leaving the pulp untouched.
 If disturbed, as he frequently is, now that his pugnacity is known, the male katydid scolds vehemently, and if the teasing is per- sisted in shows fight by chasing the finger as it is drawn in different directions or zig gag across the table. Permitted to reach the finger he will endeavor to bite 1t, but the effort Is little more than 8 smart pinch which fails to penetrate the skin. A bit of apple was offered to the pets but they de- C11u0u AGS "6AAcO SST1OuSlJ AW6y U SuOEG distance and paused close together, as if in consultation. The other fruit being offered, l by placing it near them and then removing | it to the sheet of paper, they followed quick l ly, and made their supper as usual. When they have eaten the female usually leaves the paper first, her appetite being appar ently less vigorous than that of her mate, and marches toward the base of the Ger man student lamp. Thither she is soon fol | lowed by the male, who follows her to the ring In the top of the standard of the lamp. There their antics are very amusing, and not unlike those of expert trapeze perform CTS, the male giving orders for the changes of positions almost constantly. Naturalists who have accredited the female katydid | with incapacity to ''sing" are in error When not pleased at something which her companion does his mistress can and does make very decided, though, it is true, not very emphatic objections. Her note is some- thing like that of her mate, very much re- duced in emphasis, and in fact rather Q | weakly whispered imitation of 1t. Being of- tended, as she generally is after the trapeze 1 performance has been continued 8 few min- l utes, she utters her protest and marches down the standard, evidently in huff, as her step is much moro lively than that with which she made the ascent. Her shape and movements easily encourage the supposition that she has her back up.
 One evening, in what was supposed to be 1 the middle of the performance. the female 1 suddenly left the ring, ran quickly down the standard, and away to the window cas- ing, up which she went toward the ceiling l at very lively pace. The male did not fol. low as quickly as usual, but continued his acrobatic amusement for some time. Pres ently he stopped and seemed to look about him, working his long ''feelers" in every direction. It was very evident that he had missed his mate. Without tarrying longer he hurried down the standard. At the base he hardly paused, but was silent, as he had been from the beginning of the descent Suddenly he started in pursuit of his spouse, and, with great chatter, "tiinging his saw'' as he went, he followed along the track that she had taken, thus confirming the belief of naturalists that the scent of insects Is very acute. When he found her he ceased working his .taborets, and as they sat upon the curtain poles made what seemed to be demonstrations of much af. lection. But he was repeatedly febuffed female left his company and came down the casing to vase filled with scarlet, pink and variegated flowers. He followed, but had to be content with the occupancy of . bloom apart from the one occupied by his mate. The female liking for, bright .colors Is not lacking in Mrs. Katydid, as she night ly.takes her Eepose among the flowers until returned to her homo In the jardiniere.
 l ..- Reserved for dsn. F.. APennsylvania editor answers a cor l respondent who propounded the query, "Did- you ever see . bald-headed woman2" in the following strain: 'No, we never did. Nor did we ever see a woman waltxing aroundi town in her shirt sleeves, with . cigar between her teeth. We never saw . woman go fishing with bottle in: her h1p
 pocket, sit around on the damp ground all day, and go homo 'boozed' in the evening. Neither have we seen a woman yank od her coat, spit on her hands, and swear she could
 whip any man in town. All of tho forego. ing privileges are reserved for meu."
 ! A Tough Old Tartar.
 There is man living ct Sarato6, Russia, who is 40 years old. He acted as adjutant
 to Field Marshal Pugatchen and took part
 in the stor1Aing of Kasin and 6imbirsk and
 in the bombardmeut ot Samsra. He was sr.
 rested with Pugatchen and brought back to
 Simbrisk, where he was subjected to 1Sl