The Brownsville daily herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1897-1910, 1906-01-16
FlDDLING INSECTS.
The Art Of FiddIing Is Not Possessed by
Nan AIone-There Are Insects
That Fiddle Too.

The art of fiddling is not possess
ed by man alone. Insects of the
field and forest-many of them
harmless, and others classed in the
category of pests-have a little hd-
die and bow of their own and use
them to strum their songs of love.
By means of their violin strings,
certain insects call upon their
mates, give signals, communicate
intelligence, and perhaps, give ex-
preston to their own little emo
tons.
They do not confne themselves
to one tune. In the daytime, their
| trill is full of spirit and joy; at
night it takes on a tinge of rnelan-
choly and somberness. Even dur
ing daylight hours, when a cloud
obscures the sun, their song
changes from sprightliness to one
of sorrow.
Upon the tunes produced by the
little musicians. depends the do
nestle happiness of the insects.
The male alone fddles-and if his
love-tune be true, his chances of
winning a noiseless bride are much
better. Should his fiddle be out Of
tune, or his song be poor, he is
liable to remain a disconsolate bach
eior.
The long-horned grasshopper or
true locust, and the common cricket
are probably the best known of ali
STIMULATING or fddling insects.
OF the Iong-horned grasshopper,
the katy-kid is a characteristic rep
reselltative. This little musician is
supplied with two sets of wings. |
The outer and heavier ones are
used for flying, while the Tuner
pair make m the how and fiddle !
Near the base of these inner
wings, is located a set of strong
veins. By bringing the veins on
each wing into contact and rubbing
them together, the song of the
locust is produced.
A talented musician of the or
chestra variety, is the common lit
tie grasshopper. His fiddle is at
tached to one wing. and he uses
his hind-leg for a bow. On this leg
is line of little, bead-like prom
inences, from each of which grow
a number of fine hairs. When
the grasshopper draw this leg back
and forth over the violin-like ar
on his wings, his love
songs swell out on the air.
The female grasshopper tries to
initiate her musical mate, and fd-
dies away with vigor-but for all
that, she is unable to produce a
single sound.
A natural musician, too, is the {
little cricket-and his tune is gen
orally louder and more lively than
that of the locust. 1t is said that ,
the fiddling efforts of some of these
little chaps have been heard at least
4 mile from the place where they
we're SO industriously working.
One time by day, and another by Y
night, is the program of the cricket.
he has even been known to change
he time when the sun has been 4
obscured by clouds.
When approached, he will cease
lis musical strains. Sometimes,
however, he has been fooled and
las permitted scientists to get close !
o him and watch him conducting
lis one-instrument orchestra.
Fiddling, however, is not the
,nly means by which these musical
Insects serenade their loved ones. !
The seve nteen-year locust, for
puts the melody of his
oul into the reverbe1ations of two
abdominal drums.
These drumheads are tight. To
,ach is attached a strong muscle,
which the insect can tighten or re-
AK at will. The method of opera
ion is similar to pressing upon the
bottom of tin pan. :