See! It draws those long hind legs close up to its body, then suddenly straightens them out—and away it goes as though it had been shot from a spring board.
John says its hind legs work just like a spring, and so they do. It can leap several times the length of its body. Amy thinks it should be called a grass-jumper instead of a grasshopper.
Suppose we all look carefully at the locust's long hind leg, segment by segment.
What, John? You do not know what a segment is?
Well, a segment is the part between two joints. The joints are where the leg bends, you know.
May proposes that we draw a picture of the long hind leg.
It will be fun to try.
There are two tiny segments close to the body.
If you are not careful, you will find only one.
You must look sharp to see both of them.