The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1868-06-06
eT DE-. GIDEON D. SMITH.

VIII enueafor 10 40 so. snail commune
TO call this insect the tocuSt because it is in
universal use and as we write to be under
stood, by all readers, it is proper that we
should use such language as all understand.
Tho cientihc name is cicada septemdecim.
In the whole range Of natural history there
Is nothing more strange than the fact
which has been established with as much
certainty as any fact in astronomy ever was,
that a little insect not as large as the ant
shall pass into the ground and remain there
seventeen years, and then emerge in the
form of u comparatively large insect, or,
that IA certain tribe of insects shall appear
here in Immense UNDERGRADUATES almost
equal to those Of the sands Of the sea shore
exactly once in seventeen years, always in
the same month, almost on the same day and
same hour. 1t is, indeed, wonderful, but it
Is nevertheless true. Another fact, equally
strange, is that there are numer GUS tribes of
these insects. | have the particulars Of
twenty eight districts in the United States,
III each OF which these insects appear every
seventeen years but each district has dit.
terent year for their appearance from that
of any neighboring district. They do not
pass from one district to another but re,
main in their own district. Though they
can fly, their fight is very short; from tree
to tree, some fifty or hundred yards is
about as far as they usually attempt to fly.
Very high winds frequently drive them to a
considerable distance, even over rivers
Rivers and mountains are generally bounda-
ries of their districts. Though they will 60
pretty well mp the sides of the mountains,
they rarely if ever reach the top, or go over
it,; and they cannot fly over river the
eighth of q mile wide. Still, the whole
country, now occupied only once in seven
teen years, will in the course of time be
visited by them every year, in consequence
of the mngling Of the districts, by the in
sects being waited by the winds one to
another. As before stated, there are now
several places where the insects of neigh
boring districts have commingled, causing
their appearance every eight and nine years
alternately, &e. Who know but that other
insects require also number Of years for
their existence, though they now appear to
he annual2 The progeny of one that appear
ed several years ago, coming up this year
and those of another that appeared a year
after, coming next year, and SO on. The
habits of the locust are as follows: by shay
ing off an inch of the soil. from the LIST
to the 10th of April or any time before the
10th Of May, in any place where trees, &C.,
grew seventeen years before, you will open
the chambers Of the locusts. They look
like halfinch auger holes. Dig down and
you will find one locust in the hole. This
hole or chamber is place wherein he pre-.
pares himself for his final appearance in the
perfect state. During night, or in cold or
wet weather, he is at the bottom of the hole,
8 to II inches deep; in the middle of the
slough the shell or skin. The walls and top
of the chamber are made waterproof by
peculiar viscid humor.
About the Goth Of May, day or two ear.
lier or later, according to the weather, they
will begin to leave the ground. You will see
their old shell adherng TO the bark Of Il tree
or shrub. But few will be found the frs,
day, more the second, and 50 on, increasing
in numbers.
When they come up from the earth al.
ways about daylight or Il little beture--they
Immediately climb the first object they meet
with, u tree, or bush, or stake, anything,
two or three feet. They then lay hold of
the bark, fixing themselves firmly by their
claws, and commence working themselves
out of their old she'll which is done by rup.
turing it OH the back, between the shoulders,
and drawing themselves out. AS soon as
they get fairly out, they seize hold of the
Old shell with their claws, raise themselves.
and begin to expand their wings. Their
bodies and wings at this time are exceed,
ingly delicate, white and moist but few
minutes exposure To the air dries and hard,
ems them, so that by the time the sun Is fairly
risen, they are perfect, aud Can fly. The
wings before sloughing are beautifully fold.
cd up, and 1t is a beautiful sight to see them
unfolded, aud in a few minutes changed from
tae soft and delicate tissue, to the firm and
rugged wing Of The perfect insect, If it be
wet orvery cloudy day, they are very apt to
perish in the operation OF sloughng and
drying.
About the 18th OF June, they commence
depositing their eggs. This is very inter
esting sight. You will see one attached to
limb or twig, aud it will not fly away as
Won approach. Look closely, and you will
see it excavating a hole in the limb with its
curious uyipositor. Watch it closely, and
as soon as it has inserted the ovipositor com.
p,etely into the limb, take hold of the insect,
and gently but quickly draw it forward, and
apply the point of the ovipositor to the palm
OF the hand, when you will see two eggs
elected into your hand in quick succession.
They deposit two eggs at each insertion of
in each place ON the limb. She then goes
t, other places on the same limb, or to some
o:her limb, and repeats the operation, till
sac has laid about 400 eggs. The eggs are
white, or pearl color, about the 18th of an
inch long, and about one-sixth as thick
as they are long. 1t is this operation
that destroys the small limbs, the excava-
tons cutting off the sap vessels. The time
Of depositing the eggs continues till about
the 10Th Of June, when they cease. All
kinds of trees and shrubs are selected by
them for their deposits except pines or other
turpentne trees. They do not seem to Sc
lect the hardest nor the most soft wood, but
that which is about the size of their bodies
or less, seems to be chosen the operation
requiring them to grasp the sides of the limb
with their claws, which they could not do so
we'll if the limbs were large. BY grasping
firmly with their claws, they are able to
make great pressure on the point of the
oviuositor, and thus effect their object.
From the lst to the Goth of June, all
stumbling Of value should be protected,
either by carefully covering it with cheap
gauze, or in the case Of pot plants, by keep
ing them in the house.
About the 18th of June, the eggs will be
ready to hatch. Then take limb contain
ing them, cut carefully till you expose the
eggs, and then take them ont, place them
in the palm of the hand, and they will hatch
in a few minutes. The little insect frees
himselffrom the egg precisely in the same way
that the large one did in the spring, by rup-
turing the shell on his back. As soon as he
is fairly out of the shell he starts off briskly
in search of food. Let him get to the
ground and you will see him work his Way
into it, follow him and Won will see him at