Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1826-06-02

''"e' 'nseC'' anu t"oS euue dsteotion These Gu
qniries, which observation should think mig ht sue
ccssfully answer
We are induced TO otter these remarks from The curio
sy which the subject seems 10 have excited at a dis
lance. The following account of The ocust from n,
old English publication the most minute and satistac
! tory have seen.
observations on the Cicada. or Locus: America which
appears periodically in 10 or II Years By Moses
Bartram, l766. Communicated bv the ;upe,ins pcc
/ Collinson, Esq. for the Gci,tlcman's Nr,,; -
| 1767. S' " s's'
On the Slh of June, 1766, took several twprs Of differ
ent Kinds OF trees, which then Cicadas ar
0er"g las is Called lay their eggs: of those v;rgs
put some IN empty phfais; some in rals, with li,,lc wa
ter; and some stack in pot OF earth which ken, mos,
III orc or to preserve the twisgs fresh.
July u, the eggs in the twigys i'm he n;,l ;., .,
hached as did those in the twgss in the NOT If ,h
after ihen but the twggs in the empty pha einy i,hcrcd
me eggs persisted; yet have observed that on rgs acci
ueniay broken off in the woods, if they lie near ,h
IN the shade to be kept moist, the erss in ,Ip will
match IN their due times but in those that exposed to The
| sun, they surely die. "
The young LoSuss that PATCHED in ,c twice in tho
piai ran down the wiegs To the wafer ON wbicb ,bev
"ated about four and twenty hours and then died: those
mat were matched in the wisss the pot of earth ran
Gown the twggs Immediately the ca ., nd il
e htst opening they could find, which they searched for
eagerly ASST already sensible OF danger by being expuse
| To the light Of the SUM-
lhave observed that i'm the n,,,r,, ,,,,, , 40 -, ,.,
any Matched iii six weeks; but, by the INSURANCE of the
gowt oi the shoots into which the eggs are darted the
% "i inc Tree closes ana confines them, they will in that
SITUATION remain several months till bv some lucky
dent they are dengaged, then theT will hatch in few,
'''er and seek their in the earth in the
same manner those hatched in the usual ,imc I'm,
perish by being thus Imprisoned
e"eu through microscope the they re hatch
r,t:y pt"' IN every respect perfect the
OIL er last transformations when they rise oct of the earth
ot Oh her scay covering, expand their yyrrs dsplay
their gauty colours dart forth their eggs and after few
vs''"ce. 10 iuhil the wisepurposeS of their maker
close the period Of their lives by an easy death How as
o"e therefore and nscutablc is design of provi-
ee III the production Of this insect, that is brought into
'o "0C""hS 10 our apprehension, only sink the
'PlS o! the EARTH there remain rkness till tho
appointed Time comes when it aSccnds agan light by
wonderful resurrection The means hv which thew AZ
o'e" ocon:nue their species is less sing, lar tan hc
manner at existence The females are furnished with =
bearded DART with which they pierce the tender shoots q
al! trees they happen to light upon, without regard to stu
'on OF species; many therefore perish by quick grot!
Vi "t ccS III WHICH TIE eggs tlaricd;
ny being ia IN twisgS that hang streams or tautn
waters Inc dart h, which the operation is performed
consists 81 three parts; middle, aud sides: the mid
Ole is hollow through which eggs arc tarted and IN,
NV" s'eS serve Tor covering defend it, These ma
easily he taken apart by slipping the middle through thu
grooves OF me TWO Sides and it is by slipping the two out
sue Pt'S ny each other rapidly, that they work Kind O
slant hale in the soft twigg they make choice Of Ill, the
re"cn Tie pin and then they eject their eggs it TO tn
number of twelve when this is pc formed bev eriu ao
'neT hoe close ny tine side of the former, aud so confirm
to work till they have carried along two rows each row, con
siSug OF Twelve or more holes They then remove to ano
so t,viur
soon expire. ''
have net yet been able discover the full der,h +
which these little animals descend Some I have h.,r
{, len. " ~ 90"
Ihey do not however, travel to any great dis
lance hofIzonally for they are seldom found far fro,
e woods unless IN grounds that have newly cleared
"'e' however, happens, that in the long peod OF he
torpid state great tracts of country esrr-. t
r''ea rom trees, and converted into arabic ar psu
liz.
nose pain grounds and hasten sumo adninup FENCE
put of their membranes and p.epa re themselves m
rms they do always in the night by crawling to some c
along fence or among bushes or strong grass and il is re-
thdI they dher III this from every either nsec
~ rs chiyslis state; for instead being vrapped nm in
pam .VciS whicn confines the inlabiant to Il ccrtai
spot till II bursts, they have covering fitted TO e firm
~ winch they can travel n considerable distance. a.,
winch they cannot leave till they ad some solid
III winch /" tlS their claws, and then with al effort vI IT.
requires TIE utmost cxertom of thcir streuptb tbe h
e' case when always npcnS from the shoulders 70 Il,
"epat OF lie head, out of which they crawl, leaving
SUCKING last behind Thousands Of these cases may
seen III morning, sticking all paris OF trees which be
s hardened IN the son, have scaly-lke substance, wlc
NOT BENG flexible after it is tIv often so ;uruhsrs tho,
'hty can put II Gil that many perish in the atteu
on this reason. they always chusc the ni.ht for This
oH ana wait for the enehing Influence of the wa r, Gu
' strengthen and give cosseuce to their wnas which
'S are white, SOFT and moist, but assume dar
Drown colour, with Hrmness that enables them TO v AN
transparency that adds beauty their appearance
winch before was wanting.
Ii IL remarkable, that IN everv state of This ireoc ~
ence IS eagerly pursued for food by others In the yer
u egg, 1t Is the prey OF and birds of every kind in In;
OF the 9fub by hogs dogs and all caruiyeros animals IN;
can nnearth liz and in its perfect state not on b
many kinds of beasts and birds, but even by mon MANY
the f"da'lS, it said. feeding sumpuousy upon them
Soon after they arrive their last state Of transform;
tom they seek mates to enable them 10 continue their sn
cles and III this too, they singular; the female
mas hccu observed, is furnished with dart the snC
which, takes ITS rise below the middle Of the insect ON II
Contrary The male projects his dart from behind and fixes
near tie shaft Of that Of the cnale where il remains
many hours toseihcr during which time, they are not TO
separated without Iaceratiou
Dwin5 the season of copuaon, from sunrise to suns,
me noise they make IS loud and perpetual that lin,
else can he heard in the woods where they abound; nd
Is doubtful, whehe during this season. or indeed dr,
er whole time of existence III this State they eat M
hing, or subsisf only By slipping e dew: for which nuroo
h'y seem to be furnished with long tube, extending fro
hcr heads fiat 20 ;hcir breast, aud terminating bey
'hcf 'egs without tie power OF altering lis position o.
CT man ms tube they To have for tho purpose
subsistence In short, fhe natural history Of i< In,
Inscci seems highly deserve the attention of c curio,
VI. BARTRAM.
PUBLIC MEETING.