The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-11-26
VOICES OF INSECTS.
Some Facts as to their Quality and How
They are Produced.

They are Produced.
The National Academy Of Science con-
unued its session yesterday in the Senate
chamber Of the Capitol. Professor Jos.
A. Lintner. Of Albany. State Entomologist'
read his paper on Insect Voices"
The sounds OF insects. it was first ex-
rlair ed, do not proceed directly from the
mouth I'm any case, there being no true
larynX and vocal organs. But few Would
reegate the bee, mosquito, or the beeue
TO the realms Of mute creation. Even tue
organs OF the mouth are not essential TO
articu'ate speech The photograph Is an
instance. and also the fact that song can
be emitted in man through the nostrils,
the mouth being tightly closed. 1T Is
far. far more difficult" said Professor
Lintner. ito study the voices Of love-
iov. fear. anger, ect., in insects than IN
birds. The insect vocalists are shy, their
notes delicate, and no less than 5000
vibrations I'm a second have been COM
puted. Moreover, they communicate by
sounds inaudble to human ears, constltut-
ing, as IL We're, an additional sense"
Professor Scudder Of Cambridge, he
continued. in his work. Songs OF the
Grasshoppers." had explained that these
insects had different voices for the sun
shine and the shade, for the day and night.
The sounds were produced by the friction
Of the antennae. There were no mouse
crickets in this country, a questionable
want. 1t was on record, however, that
a gentlemen Of science had an applica-
ton made to him for their introduction.
on the other hand. a lady in England had
been utterly urable 20 drive them from
her house and this was only erected In
course of time by the holding OF private
wedding in the house, at which drums
and trumpets were inroducen. mat
effectualy drove them away, possibly De-
cause they could not bear any louder
music than their own. as happens WIN
others besides crickets.
Widely distinct sounds were emitted by
the grasshOpper tribe, their voices having
been described as resembling siumbrouS
breathing" and one species most poeu-
cally compared TO ian audible Stiffness
which. could be heard, would sound
like the moonlight" The song Of others
was cultural, like distant sounds OF
frogs" and one European variety possess
ed a tune like that Of the goatsucker-a
low, dull interrupted rote. These were
true grasshoppers. There were many kinds
OF katydids. The song OF the meadow
grasshOrpers is described by Professor
Scudder as a crescendo lasting half
second, a trill. a staccato lasting one
eight OF second. followed by trills and
staccatos ad libtum. This was in day
time; its eyensong vas similar, but
slower.
The cone headed katydid, common IN
this State during August, had notes that
sounded like "bzrwy" by day and "tchw"
by night. The katydid proper could be
heard much more easily than seen. They
were very familiar 70 every one east OF
Rockies. The speaker had heard them in
Castle Garden, New York, loud enough,
almost, TO drown ordinary conversation.
He thought that the poets must have
heard this variety Of hopper at distance,
where its rasping ri was toned down.
Our katydid seemed possessed OF an In
durable spirit OF contradiction. IL begins,
''katydid, katydid, katydld." This be-
comes intensified as the quarrel becomes
heated into "She didn't, she didn't" and
finally into "She did, she did, she did"
The noise was due 10 the rapid opening
and shutting OF the wing covers. produc-
Ing friction.
The true iocusts were grasshoppers.
The sounds were partly made by the
drawing down OF the femur or long bone
I'm which ninety-two teeth had been
across the nerves OF the wing
rovers. Then, on the side OF the body
was cavity closed by skin: this, as
with the violin, intensified the vibrations.
This seemed a queer place for q vocal
organ. but II was equalled by the nose"
II some insects being placed in the Joints
II the antennae. while even eyes had