The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-04-17
BIRTH oF TIE LoousT.
Movem ents OF the Seventeen-Year In
sects Watched by Lamplight.

sects Watched by Lamplight.
From Natures Realm
In the village of Jenkintown, near Phila-
delphia, Pa, in the early part of April, 1885,
while Swimming off few inches of dirt
from carriage drive, 1 uncovered holes
honeycombed in the earth, half an inch in
diameter and perfectly symmetrical. They
were mostly under old trees, where they had
approached very near the surface
We uncovered the chrysalis about six
inches below the surface, and awaited the
proper time and condition of weather for
them to come out. In the latter part of
April they made their appearance II
rainy or muddy weather intervenes they
cement the mouths of their holes with mud,
to keep out the water until favorable
weather.
They encountered many difficulties, com
ing up under stones aud brick pavements,
making their way out often through the
cracks. | have piece of iron plate, many
times the weight of a locust, lifted up and
propped by mud at an angle to let the insect
out.
The majority of holes were under trees
or where trees had been.
Naturalists say they only come out in the
night. For almost two weeks watched
them nightly, and they made their appear
ance an hour before shutdown, increasing in
numbers until dark.
Crawling by thousands through the grass
and over the bare ground in their brown
casing, which they are about to throw off,
they are often covered with mud. Ascend
ing weeds, posts, fences aud framework in
droves, and particularly trees, they fix
themselves to the bark and on the leaves
At this time they encounter many enemies,
as chickens, hogs, squirrels and birds are
very fond of them.
Our cat was seen every evening watching
In the grass, seeming to relish them as a
dainty.
One evening l secured seven on one
branch, and witnessed the operation of
their new birth by lamplight. They we're
some time running up and down selecting a
position. Once fairly fixed, the back part
of the head soon becomes smooth and
glossy, as if stretched to its utmost ten
sion.
In five minutes from the time of settling
in position, a longitudinal fissure, showing a
thread-lik white line " here the split occurs.
appears on the back of the head first. ex-
tending finally from the first joint, connect
ing the probosCis or forceps to the body
Joint, half an inch in length.
In three minutes more the head had
pressed its way out. Gradually the fore
legs were withdrawn from their sockets, say
in one minute. Then the whole body swung
slowly backward, head down and feet OUT
ward, suspended, with an occasional tremor,
as If trying TO sxtricste the hind part and
legs.
When it had hung for three minutes It
then very clio WY, like an acrobat, brought
its body up 20 the original position, with
! drew the hind legs and body, and In two
! INMATES nore stood outside the puba skin in
full form, an inch long, of white, waxy
appearance, with red eyes like rubies The
wings showed only as a mass OF cramped-
up white dim.
In minute tho wings had grown to
three-quarters OF an inch, by measurement {;
IN three minutes to one inch, and in six and
a half minutes to the full size of one and a
quarter inches in length and half an inch
In breadth. Ia twenty-five minutes the
whole process was accomplished.