Observations.

Notice the form and size of your specimen, its color, the number of its legs and of its feelers. Find the eyes; the two large eyes, a tiny one between the two feelers, and near the inner edge of each large eye, another tiny one. With a lens notice the markings on the large eyes. Find the mouth, and note its lips and finger-like feelers. Draw out an outer wing, and then carefully draw out the delicate under wing, allowing them both to fold into place again. Under the wings find the circular or crescent-shaped membranes, the eardrums. Watch the grasshopper's body expand and contract in breathing, and find the small breathing holes along each side the body. Compare its rate of breathing with your own.

Questions.
  1. In what surroundings and how does the grasshopper's color protect it? What color markings has it which might serve for other grasshoppers to see as signals? Explain how this signaling is done.
  2. Explain how the legs are placed so as to act as springs in jumping and alighting.
  3. What advantages in having the wings attached on the upper side and the legs on the under side of the body?
  4. Explain how the small wings are protective, and how the large ones are protected.
  5. Why is it better for the grasshopper to have its mouth on the under side of its head instead of in front?
  6. The large eyes are supposed to be far-sighted, the small ones near-sighted. State how the large eyes have the more advantageous position, and around how much of a circle they can see.
  7. Describe how the grasshopper breathes.

THE LIVING BUTTERFLY OR MOTH

Materials.

Individual specimens in large jars or cages, and other specimens in cages with foliage; simple lenses and a needle or pin.

Observations.