The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1868-06-19
BY DR.. GIDEON D. SMITH.

have been requested by numerous per-
sons to give the particulars in relation to
the history and habits of this singular in
sect. Twill endeavor to do so. I shall con-
tinue to call this insect the McuSt, because
it is in universal use ; and as we write to
be understood by all readers, it is proper
that we should use such language as all
understand. The scientific 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 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 comparatively large
insect, or that q 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 numerous tribes of these insects. 1
have the particulars of twenty-eight dis
tricts in the United States, in each of
which these insects appear every seventeen
! years but each district has a different
! year for their appearance from that of any
neighboring district They do not pass
| from one district to another but remain
in their own district. Though they can
| fly, their flight 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 con-
siderable distance, even over rivers. Rivers
and mountains are generally boundaries of
their districts. Though they will go pref
ty we'll up 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 seventeen years,
will in the course of time be visited by
them every year, in consequence of the
mingling Of the districts, by the insects be-
ing waited by the winds one to another
AS before stated, there are now several
places where the insects of neighboring dis
tricts have commingled causing their APP
pearance every eight and nine years, alter
nately, &c. Who knows but that other in
sects require also a number of years for
their existence, though they now appear
to be annual The progeny of one that
appeared 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 locusts are as follows /:
by shaving off an inch of the soil, from the
| 1st to the 10th of April, or any time before
the goth 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 prepares himself for his final appear
| ance in the perfect state.
During night, or in cold weather, he
is at the bottom of the hole, or IL inches
deep; in the middle of the day he is at the
top, evidently preparing to slough the
shell or skin. The walls and top of the
chamber are made waterproof by peculi-
ar viscid humor.
&About the goth of May, a day or two ear
lier or later, according to the weather, they
will begin to leave the ground. You will
sec their old shell adhering to the bark of
tree or shrub. But few will be found on
the first day, more on the second, and so on,
increasing in numbers.
When they come up from the earth-al-
ways about daylight or little before-they
Immediately climb the first object they
meet with, tree, or bush, or stake any
thing, 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 rupturing it on the back, be-
tween the shoulders, and drawing them
selves out. AS soon as they get fairly out,
they seize hold of the old shell with their
claws, raise themselves, and begin to ex-