The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1891-05-01
miscellaneous.
THE INSECT MUSICIANS.

=
er in our kitchen, where be remained several
days, despite my efforts to turn him out, and
finally he became quite tame. Towards even
ing he would come out of his lurking place
and allow me to witness his musical perfor
nance. He elevated his elytra, or wing cases,
and rubbed them against each other in
most rapid manner. On the middle portion
of the fore wings there is a resonant drum
with an elastic surface, and on the upper sur
face of the hind wings is file covered with
fine teeth. The noise is made by rasping the
file across the drum, and my prisoner evident
ly had good new instrument, not yet worn
by use, with which he produced such shrill
notes that l was obliged to stop my ears
while watching him. But distance soft
ened the sound, so that only had to pass
into another room to make his music seem
light and cheerful but it mattered little to
him whether I was pleased or otherwise
with his performance.
His serenade was not for my entertainment,
but to charm the ear of shy, silent Miss
Grylus; and evidently the louder and shrill-
er the sound the more enchanted she be-
came. do not know that while he was my
prisoner he took any nourishment aside from
water which furnished him, but his musical
powers did not abate; and towards the even
ing of the fourth day l noticed two bright,
the kitchen. A screen door interviewed be-
tween them, but this did not prevent one
of the young ladies from climbing upon the
netting to take a look at the musician. She
was perfectly silent-as is the way of all the
females in this family-but somehow the gal.
liant serenader knew at once that she was
there. and ceased his song and tried to mount
the screen to meet her, but he was not sue
cessful; he fell back with each attempt
Whether he was naturally less agile than she,
or had grown somewhat weak from his long
fasting / could not tell, but he soon settled
back on the floor and resumed his song and
now the other female ventured near the door,
when the one upon the screen Immediately
bounced down upon her, and they clinched
and fought until leg was severed from one,
when she crawled awsy, leaving the other
victor; meanwhile the song was continued
with great energy.
Inow opened the door and succeeded in
liberating the prisoner. He soon met the
victorious heroine, who was now all amiabi-
lily, her vixenish temper not mantesting it
self in the least. The two fondled each others
antenne, and came nearer and nearer, until
they rubbed their heads together in the most
| affectionate manner.
At this point interfered, knowing how
nearly famished the poor musician must be,
| Z,
where he at once began to cut down the
blades, which he held with his paipi and fore
feet while he sliced off dainty strips with his
mandibles, which he chewed and swallowed.
| was so intent on watching him that ne
elected to observe when the young lady went.
but he knew how to call her back. He finish
| ed his meal in some ten or fifteen minutes,
and made his toilet by passing his legs over
his head and body.
The gryllus family are very neat and
Clearly In their habits, they dislike dust and
keep themselves fresh looking until old age
overtakes them. No sooner did the gay
musician complete his toilet than he recon-
menced his serenade, but the shades of even
ing prevented my further observation.
| The crickets have been my favorites from
earliest childhood, where, in an old-fashioned
house with a fireplace and stone hearth, my
! little sister and myself made the acquaint-
ance of the house cricket (G7yzus donaesttcus. J
A few years ago / saw it stated on the au-
thority of some one that the European house
cricket had been introduced into the vicinity
OF New York. Thirty years before this it
had been our delight to watch these crickets
on winter nights and to give them water and
crumbs. No bird or kitten or pet or any kind
has left such a vivid impression as these
crckets. They were much lighter colored
|
Our mother taught US to give them water
telling US they were thirsty race ; so we
poured little pools on the hearth, which
would soon be surrounded with baby and
mother crickets.
fully believe that the mother had care
over her little ones. At all events they lived
together in perfect harmony, and when a
large cricket would start off to her den with
a crumb of bread which we had placed neal
her, she was invariably followed by host OF
small ones. The musicians were stationed in
various crannies, delighting the ears Of theil
partners, who were intent upon their various
domestic duties. They had long galleries tc
mine and rooms to build beneath the hearth
Inever saw any quarreliDg among them; in
this respect they were unlike our field
crickets, and were truly merry, happy fam
w. But our old-fashioned fireplaces have
long since given place to stoves and furnaces
so that for many, many years the cricket on
the hearth has been an impossibility.
The mole cricket (GryIlotalpG lo'egipe1anis
is our largest native species. 1t is seldom
seen outside of its underground haunts. 1T
fore legs resemble those of the mole; they art
broad and fat, and armed with teethlike pro
jections adapted for mining and digging IL
the earth. They are much more shy and re
firing in their habits than their congeners
and although so much larger and stronger
than their relatives, yet their musical power
are not so well developed. The male sits a
the mouth ofhis tunnel and chirps ditty
. which is faint and low compared with tn
strong, shrilling song of the field cricket.
We have some interesting musician
among the grasshoppers, especially in tn
genus (Edipoda) This genus also contain
our handsomest species. The hind wings o
(EdtpodG coralInG are a rich coral red, ant
b. sulp7turea has deep yellow wings with
dark band near the centre. Our most abund
r ant species, common everywhere, is Cd. Caro-
lima, whose wings are black, ornamented will
, broad yellow band.
q These grasshoppers, as if aware that thei
= beauty resided in their wings, rise in the OF
to sing. The noise is made by rubbing tn
edge of the true wings against the under sur
face of the wing covers l have often watch
ed them while in this aerial position, an
wondered if the song was always a love cal
i, If behavior means anything among grass
hoppers, they have, at times, especially lat
in the season, other business aside from love
J. making. Many times have observed one G
these creatures mount up few feet abov
4 the ground, calling, calling until sometime
half a dozen or more would congregate be
|. meath him, when he would drop down /
I their midst and touch the head of each as
consulting about some grave matter; the