Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1846-05-26
THE CICADA sEPrENDEcIN.
Extracted from Luiro5e's TraUels ia North
Amsried0

.ribe, hence called the SeptendeeiH; distinct |
n aspect aud habits from those whose annual |
appearance and mode OF lite were understood. !
Though OF different tribe, and with perfectly |
tiilefent habits from the locust OF the East !
Gryilts mugraiOrisus) the fact Of its occa-
sioHsi appearance, as though by magic, in
such vast swarms, has caused II 10 be iamili-
arly alluded to b. that name. Its last appear
ance had been in 1917. and its re-appcarance
was thus confidently predicted Tor the third
OF fourth week in May this year (ls3i) Ma
tnre true TO her impulses, and the laws by
winch she IS SO mysteriOusly governed, did
not iail TO fulfil the prediction. On the 2lih
May and the following day the whole surface
OF The country in and about the city of Phila-
delphia suddenly teened with this singular
insect. The subject interested me-, and as
during those days. had every opportunity of
being daily, nay hourly. attentive To the phe-
nomena connected with IL, both here and in
Maryland, | send YOU the result of my obser-
vatlons. The first day of their appearance
their numbers were comparatively few; the
second day they came by myriads; and vet
DAY or two might pass before they reached
their full number. ! happened TO be- abroad
the bright sunny morning which might BE- call
Ell the day OF their birth. At early morning
The insect, in the pupa state, may b. observed
issuing Lom the earth in every direction, by
the help OF a set Of strongly barbed claws on
The iorelegs. It's color then is of a uniform
dull brown, and il strongly resembles the per
lect insect IN form, except the absence Of wings
ornaments and antennR. The first impulse
OF the imperfect insect on Detecting itself
from its grave IS 10 ascend few inches, or
even feet, up the trunks Of trees, at the foot
OF which their holes appear in the greatest
number, or upon the rail fences, which are
soon sprlnkled with them. In these positions
they straightway fix themselves firmly by their
bar6ed claws. Half an hours observation
VIII then show you the next change which is
TO be undergone. A split takes place upon
The shell down from the back OF the head TO
the commemorate Of ihe rings OF the abdomen
aud the labor Of the seh-cX,rication follows.
With many a throe aud many a strain YOU
see the tail and hind legs appear through the
rent, then the wings cNtiCate themselve,
painfully from little case ia the outer shell,
IN which they lie eNquisi,ely folded up, bat
no not uniuTl themselves; Ond, lastly, the head,
WIN It's antennG, diseugag,s itself, aud YOU
behold before YOU the newborn insect from
lis prison. The slough Is not disengaged, but
remains firmly fixed 10 the ii bres OF the wood
and the insect lauguidly cnwliuga few inches
remains as /! were in a dose of wonder and
establishment. II is rather under an inch in
length, and appears humid and tender; the
,oiors are dull, thc eyes glazed. the legs feeble
md The wings for while after they are open
ii appear crumpled aud uaclastic All this
passes before the sun has gained his full
'tenth. As the dag advances, the colurs of
he insect become more lively, the wings
lttain the full stretch, and the body dies aud
$ 6rdced up for its future little life oiactivity
Between ten sRl eleven the ncwly.risen
nbes Begin TO tome their instruments. Your
ecome conscious Of a sound Filing the air far
al wids, diil' pf from the ordinary ones
'hich ms I,ss@71ur car. a loN distinct
um sS''ies you, turn where YOU will. Ii &
l'y % coinP.te" 20 the simmed0g oi an e.
oiuhou7 caldfoni ~ swells impeToeptibly, B
, 'ahSeS hs Character, and becomes fuller aud
harper. thousands seem TO inin in; and he 4
N hour after midday the whole country. Car
md wide, rings with the unwonted sound.
! e insects are now lodged In or f,ine about
Inc foliage above, few hours having been
nus sufficient TO give them full strength and
lcuvl'y, and bring them into n full voice.
wen may the schOolboy and the curly headed
lrBEo rejoice at the soundj for their hands will
leNer want a pi0ything for many DAYS 10
ONE. Wei may the birds OF the forest 70.
oice; Tor this Is season of plenty 10 then,
The pigs aud poultry, too, they aiten ON ,he
swarms which before many laws
wall cover the ground in the decline of their
strength. The pretty inseCt-ior ii i 'tuIv
'Hch--wiih It's dark body, red eyes, and its
,loSsy wings intcrlaced by bright yellow r.
'r"s, ENJOYS bot little week; and that merry
larping which pcrvBdes creation from sun,is,
o SHUTDOWN Tor thc time of It's continuance. il
'ut OF some SIX days duration. It's character
Noo'd D. almost impossible 10 describe though
u rings M my ears every time think of tbs
insect. Like all those ol its ribe. the sonnd
he action OF internal muscles upon a sper;.s
u Tyre or elastic membronc covered with no.
work, and situated under the wings. tbe 40.
ION OF which | have often witnessed. The
rmaIe insect may uttera faint sound but nov,
10 know; II IS the male who is endowed
MN The powerful means which | have d.s-
noed. though the sound is generally even
'nd cCnlnuOus as long as lie insect Is tinint,y
uPted, yet there is droll variety ob,erynhIe
II times; but what IL expresses, whether no-
'ulidr satisfaction or jealousy. or what otbe,
passion, ! cannot divine. II has been well
described by the word Pha--roJ the first svl'
,eing long and sostained, and connected win
he second, which is pitched nearly an octave
over by a drawing smOrsaRder descent. De-
cent. During tkc whole period Of their ey
: ttiitc ttit ttD7th attention does not detect
heir eating anything. aud with the exception
y uiiilng injury received by trees consequent
ipon the profess observed by the female in
aging her eggs, they are perfectly ipnoYious
The end 10 which they seem to b. sent ~ 49,.
PIPER day ~ purely confined to the progogs-
ion Of these species. A few DAYS after ~,
,pP'af91nee, ~ 'tmslG begins 10 las her cags
'1e is Iornished Mil an Ovapositor sit,,,f..J
I'd a sheath - ihe sPdomcn, composed of two 4
'efraied hard psIal'rl spincs, which Abs bas
nc power OF woTsing with on sltemate no,
'endiculaf motio1 When her time con-.
be seleclsoi the outormust twigs of The (oresi
fces ~ shrubs. aud sets 70 work and maxi
series 81 iouRitQdinsl legged incisions In al.
enter bsIk ond wood In each of Ines 80.
sys row Of tins eggs, and then goes To- vel I
gain Having deposited 70 the hearts con.
.nt, she crawls up the twig few inches ye, 4
rom the ierniuaiion, end placing herself III /
makes two o. thee peTpendicul8r caste i.fl. |
Dc very pith. 14e duty ~ now terminated
inih max and female bccome weak. a. r.,
per ceases 20 be- tuneful; ihe charm of tl,e;,
Aistencc is az 81 end. the rfne 400, A ~ I