So it does, and what a very useful femur it is!
If it were not for the long femur and the long, slender tibia, the
grasshopper would not be a grasshopper--it could not hop at all.
Watch the grasshopper, and see how he uses those long segments to jump
with.
[Illustration]
First he draws the tibia close up to the femur--now he is off!
He just straightened those long hind legs out with a jerk, and away he
went!
[Illustration]
What do you suppose the two little sharp spines at the end of the tibia
are for?
What, May? You did not see any spines?
[Illustration]
Look again.
See, Charlie has drawn them very plainly in his picture of the
grasshopper's leg. Mark them _s_, Charlie.
Now we must all look at Charlie's picture.
He says he thinks he knows what the spines are for--they are to keep
the grasshopper from slipping when he makes his leap forward.