Fiddling Crickets

Did you know that only male crickets chirp?

This is how we learned that handy tip.

1) We found a cricket.

2) We read, "They are most companionable, and it is interesting to note how quickly they respond to a musical sound." ~pg. 344 in the Handbook of Nature Study.

3) We played music of all sorts. We beat on drums, rattled cymbals, shook rattles, played the recorder and keyboard, and made an assortment of noises. No luck.

4) We read, "The cricket lifts HIS wing covers at an angel of forty-five degrees." ~pg. 345 column 1 in the

Handbook of Nature Study. Males make the cricket song.

5) I said, "I wonder how you know the difference."

6) We read, "She may be distinguished from her spouse by the long swordlike ovipositor at the end of her body." ~pg. 345 column 2 in the Handbook of Nature Study.

7) Ohhh...

Next step...Find a male cricket. My (brilliant) oldest child found one of those and brought it to me. Success! We had music at last.

Wishing you homeschool blessings,

Bethany