Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 52, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 17 September 1874 — The Scientifically Treated. [ARTICLE]

The Scientifically Treated.

Tlie grasshopper is an orthopterous insect of the Gryllusvulgaris species, descendant of tlie great grasshopper known in England as tlie tiridissimns. We believe we hazard nothing in saying that tlie “subject of our sketch” is everything that its horrid appellation indicates —a liug witli so much Greek and Latin ih its name cannot be anything but horrid. And yet we are told that the Gryllus vulgarns is a mere plaything in comparison witli its great English ancestor, viridissimus. Tlie latter can destroy an eiglityacre field while the former is getting up an appetite. We had intended presenting in this issue a life-size photograph or grassdtype of Gryllus, but upon reflection we have concluded that it would lie a useless expense, as most of our readers are already familiar with liis general cast of countenance. It will be noticed that »tlns grass-ating or grass-eating individual has i'our joints to eacli foot—a sort of leg quartet—each joint being as long as Theodore Tilton’s hair. Consequently, when lie assembles in Joint convention, every precinct is sure to be represented. No proxies are allowed, and Gryllus is therefore never admitted unless he comes hiniseTfl

Although liis wings are transparent, we have never heard anybody accuse him of being “too thin.” When liis wings are opened out»for business they take up as much room as a woman’s licit at a theater; hut when not in active use they are folded longitudinally like a Japanese fan Gryllus possesses a very fine head, the features being about as expressive as a Chinese nut-cracker; his nose is of the aquiline order, with an independent respiratory apparatus, which is used as a sort of weather barometer. His teeth are well developed and very sharp; each grasshopper carries a bottle of Sozodont -m-his sfde pocket; and owing to their excellent preservation lie is rarely called upon to secede from one of liis molars; liis jaws know nothing of the joys of toothache, and there isn’t a Gryllus in Kansas or a vbridissimus in EnglaniPtliat can look a dentist square in tlie face without blushing These insect-cannibals are very regular in their habits, only eating one meal a day, commencing at four o’clock a. m. and continuing until tlie same hour on tlie following morning. Tlicir principal article of diet is Arrhenatherum avehacewm, which in vulgar parlance means “grass.” If the grass crop happens to lie a little short they can easily accommodate themselves to the situation by eating corn, and when they tackle a field of growing maize the owner also grows amazed, and demands tlie appointment of a receiver in bankruptcy. : — The above are some of the peculiarities of the grasshoppers as seen on a farm, where they can be studied with much profit—to everybody except tlie farmer. In the city, where tlie grasshoppers have pre-empted tlie front yards, and amuse themselves by turning hand-springs, running foot-races anil playing croquet, tlie scene is entirely diflerent, and tlie Gvylhises and young viridissimusses show to much better advantage.— Topeka (Kan.) Commonwealth.