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

temdecem, LOCUST. Inc regularity
with which they return at the expira-
ton of seventeen years, their simulta-'
neous appearance over a vast extent Of
country, and the countless myriads Of
their numbers, equally arrest our atten-
ton. They have made their appear
ance at Marietta, Ohi,, at three differ
ent periods, since its first settlement,
viz: in the year 1895; again in 1912;
and now in 1929. [Add II years and
we have 1s46.--Ed. o. CT With US
they have commenced their ascent from
the earth the last of May and the first
days of June, and disappear the begin
ming of July, two or three days earlier
or later, according to the temperature
of the season.
"The month of May, this season, was
very warm, and the cicada made their
appearance rather earlier than hereto
fore. By the 18th of this month, they
had risen so nearly to the surface Of the
earth that the depth of common fur
row in blowing, turned them out in
their chrysaloid state. BY the Gath,
they had begun to arise from the earth,
burst their transparent covering, and
expand their wings. From this time
to the 10th of June, their numbers dal.
ly increased, until woodlands and or
chards were filled with countless mul.
titudes. A continual singing orscream
was kept up by the males, from sun
rise till evening, and SO loud tha. in a
calm morning the sound was heard
full mile. For this purpose the male is
furnished with an air bladder under the
axilla, of a pale blue color, as repre-
sented in the figure; the females make
no noise. They appeared only in sit
uations which were covered with trees,
as was the fact when they were here
in 1919; thereby proving that they had
not wandered far in their journey of
seventeen years. The earth was per-
forated like a riddle, with holes about
third Of an inch in diameter. In an
orchard in this town, ! counted twenty
five holes on a foot square, and an
intelligent acquaintance told me that,
in his neighborhood, he had seen more
than double that number IN the same
space. Where trees were not near
each other, the ground underneath
them was covered with their skins, or
cast-of robes, TO the depth Of two or
three inches. These shells retain the
exact figure ofthe insect when it leaves
the earth, with rent on the back,
through which the cicada creeps as
from a coat of mail, and are firmly fas-
tened by the feet to the bark and twigs
Of trees and bushes, until they are
thrown down by the winds or rain
Instinct leading them to seek the near
est tree, bush, or post, as soon as they
leave the earth; here they remain until
they have left their shells for some
hours, or until their wings are dry and
sufficiently strong for flying. There
appeared to be two varieties Of the ci-
cada, one much smaller than the other.
There was also striking difference in
their notes. The smaller variety were
more common in the bottom lands, and
the larger in the hills. A continual
scream was kept up by the males dur
ing the day, but they were silent through
the night. Their flight was short, sell
dom exceeding eight or ten rods, and
their whole lives appeared to be spent
near the place oftheir nativity. lcould
not discover that they made use of any.
food; they certainly eat no leaves of
trees or plants, as they are not furnish
ed with jaws or teeth. They have
hard and sharp proboscis, about two
lines in length, which is generally COM
pressed closely to the thorax: this |
have seen inserted in the SIN Doth bark
of young trees, and when driven from.
the spot, drop ofjuice issued from the
punclure: they would, also, when dis
turbed, throw out small jet OF thin
watery liquid, as if in self-defence.-,
From their being unprovided with or
gans for eating,it would seem that their
whole business during their short visit
TO the surface ofthe earth, was to prop
ogate their species and TO die. While
here, they served for food for all car
nivorous and insect-eating animals
Hogs eat them in preference to any 9th.
er food; squirrels, birds, domestic fowls,
&C., fattened on them. So much were
they attracted by the cicada, that very
few birds were seen around our gar
dens during their continuance, and our
cherries, &C., remained unmolested.-- ~
BY the fourth or fifth day after their
leaving the earth, the female began to
deposit her eggs in the tender branches
ofmost kinds oforchard and fortst trees.
She generally selected. the wood oflast
years growth, and commenced her
task on the under side Of the twig, by
slitfinn the bark with hsr nun ctnrinn