Delaware gazette and peninsula advertiser. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1814-1820, 1817-05-28
performed by the locust shaking itself
with considerable force.

by the locust shaking itself
with considerable force.
When the insect relieves itself
from the outer covering, or grub
worm case, the wings are of hue of
rich milk. In this state, the filamentsl
which add strength to them, are of
the same white color, and instead of
the transparency which they "s,er-
wards obtain, they are now r, 'marka-
bly, opaque; but as the moisture DRIES
from off the wings Of the insect these
filaments become more tirm' anu nave
a dark brown color, whj,,h approach
Is black as the lOcust becomes
stronger.
"The time, when they issue from
the ground IS about an hour or two
a-.eS sn-.set, soon after which they
begin their exertions to free them
selves from the grub case, which the
stronger ones effect in hour or two.
They remain on the branches Of the
trees, which they have attained, (be-
fore the last metamorphosis) until
morning, when they are Of high am
Der color, have acquired their strength
and are able to contend with some of
their enemies. The weaker ones.
and those who DO not leave the earth
till morning, do not SO easily effect
their transformation, and often prove
a delicious prey to the larger and even
60 the smaller birds.
"While in the grub worm state
there is assure in the back Of the
skin, sufficiently large to admit the
locust to pass therefrom, which, not
withstanding, is not done without
great eYertions. At the time of their
leaving the grub rase, fer it cannot
be. with propriety. termed chrysalis,
life and motion is strong in the insect,
even when it is about assuming its new
for,u. Aud when we consider that
every particular lirtb, every part of
the body however delieately and ten
derby formed-and really some of
them at this time, are almost incOD-
ceiyahly thin and tender--is enclosed
in separate case, and these tender
parts must be necessarily extricated
from their sheaths, before the insect
can enjoy uninterrupted freedom, we
certainly feel our astonishment in
crease, in observing, that those SO
elegant formed members escaped un-
injured from even the extremities of
sheir covering.
When this escape is effected, the
insect leave the place where its CO.
veIing Is, and rests at a very short
distance from it, where il remains un
Oil the moisture is eyaporated from
its body. The wings, as well of the
insect, when first protru'ied from the
grub case, are very moist and tender !;
tIsongh by degrees they dry and be-
come more firm and rigid. But should
any accident prevent the cicada from
free expansion of its wings, fr a
considerable time after the grub case
is forsaken. the poor insect is doomed
~ reuiain either in a state of total or
pifttdi bentillys
. For shonlL il be so weak as TO be
unable TO expand the wing thorough
ly, while the moisture and plianry re-
main. AS soon AS they become dry and
rigid, they are fixed in that partial or
total want OF expansion and in this
helpless state. the rirada is a certain
prey even 10 the long appiauded in
dustri0us cnuet.
The locust grub rising from the
ground. is nearly the color Of the To-
gust when it has attained its full per.
feetioa, though not altogether as dark,
IFS strength is very great, nearly c.
qnhilng that OF the scayal,arus carni-
TEX Cor the beetle which forms the
balls from or,'nre.) but as il is about
10 leave the case it becomes weaker.
IS A. the lime Of their last appear
anre. applf tree Wa approved o.
tnr IT." iiealre Of my enquiry: and
ts.uug' inust have been very small
at III, Time Of their former visit, vel
having carefully collected the grub,
which came mp under IFS branches
the G's evening numbered 500
which removed: the second evening
500 more 'tad made their appearance
and The third evening upwards OF 300
Sever'i ST .!gglers remained. VIII,
were iegl""ted, as the numbers wer,
already Sufficiently great to claim m,
whole attention.