The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1846-06-06

withdrew the instrument little way,
and deposited an egg through tube in
the punch. This was Repeated until
rom ten to twenty eggs were deposit
ed on each side of the center Of the
pith, the center wood having been pie.
viously comminuted and cut up, SO as
to make soft bed for the eggs, and to
afford food for the embryo until ithatch-
ed. There was daily an evident in
crease in the size of the eggs, until they
were hatched, and an evident diminu-
lion Of the comminuted woody fbres
and enlargement Of the cells containing
the eggs, SO that they must have deriy.
ed some sustenance from the juices Of
the twig. Another proof that they did
so, was, that the eggs invariably per-
ished in those branches which withered
and dried up soon after the punctures
were made. This work continued from
day to day, until the female had ex-
pended her stock ofeggs, which, SO far
as could ascertain, amounted to about
one thousand. When this operation
was completed, the object of her exist
ence seemed to be fulfilled, and in a
few days she dwindled away and died.
The whole period of the life of a single
individual, from her leaving the earth
to her death, averaged from twentyto
twenty five days. The lie of the male
continued for nearly the same time.-
When the cicada first leave the earth,
they are plump and full of oily juices,
SO much so that they were made use Of
in the manufacture of soap; but bofore
their death they were dried up to mere
shells; and have seen them still able
to fly few feet, after one half of the
body was wasted away, and nothing re-
NAMED but the head, wings, and thorax.
From the time the eggs were deposited
to the period of Matching, was, as near
ly as could be ascertained, sixty days,
and almost daily attention was given
to the subject. When first placed in
the twigs, the eggs are about the six
teenth Of an inch in length and the
thickness Of coarse hair. appearing
through small magnifying glass Of the
shape and size ola grain ofrye. At the
period of Matching, they had increased
about one third in size. They are
white and transparent, with black
spot on the larger end just before hatch
ing. They are placed very closely by
the side OF each other, in an oblique d.
rection to the line ofthe twig. Sever
al portions Of the branch Of an apple
tree, full Of eggs ready to hatch, were
placed on bowl OF earth, with glass
tumbler inverted over them, IN the af-
ternoon. By morning nearly hum
dred young cicada were found in the
earth, and few on the surface, who
had just left their woody cells. They
were about Twelfth OF an inch in
length, with the exact shape, color, and
appearance af the parent when she
first comes to the air, and before burst
ing the transparent shell which cover
ed her while in her terrene abode
From the tact that the young ones i'm
,mediatoly seek retreat ir the earth,I
am led to believe that these insects are
tenants Of tho ground for seventeen
years, and until He who created them
again calls them forth to propagate their
kind, to fulfil their destiny and die
As to their extent, so far as can as
certain, they covered the woody re.
.gions from beyond the shores Of the
Mississippi, to the heads of the Ohio riv-
er, embracing the states of Missouri,
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, and the western
parts of Pennsylvania"