The record-union., 1894-07-28

generation appeared about the time of the
battle of Bunker Hill. There are several
broods, however, of different life period
and marked distinct characteristics.
Thus the thirteen-year brood differs in
form, size and color from the seventeen
year locust. and occupies a distinct Sec
ton of country when it does appear.
These locusts are sucking insects. the
cicada lsrya piercing the roots and leaves
of plants and deriving nourishment in
that manner. The larva rarely pene-
trates. says Professor Riley, more than
two feet below the surface of the soil,
though here and there it has been found
at greater depths.
In burroWing the Iarva scratches away the
walls OF Its cell with the claws of the iemora
and tibia, very much as we would do with
our hands. The lOoSened earth is pressed
against the sides and ends of the cell, chiefly
by the hind and middle legs. When Durrow-
Ing downward, the soil is first gathered into
little pellet and placed deity on the front
OF the head, when the larva turns round with
Its little load and presses it against the upper
portion OF Its burrow. In years of exit the
pupa is found near the surface of the ground
or on II, hiding under stones and logs. There
IS great uniformity in the Issuing OF the pu-
p6e. which takes place in the latitude of Wash
1nguOn from the middle TO the end OF May,
but earlier farther south and later in its
northernmost range. They issue ia the same
locality, after their long underground life,
almost to day Frequently, and especially
IN low soil subject TO overflow, or where the
SOIL IS particularly wet or covered with masses
OF wet leaves, the pupH extends the burrow
in the shape OF a tube from four TO six inches
above ground, this tube looking like dinin-
utlye craWfSh-tube. II is most interesting 10
observe the unanimity with which all these
pupse, which rise within certain radius OF
given tree, crawl in a bee-line for the trunk
OF that tree, and 10 see these pupP, il such
vast numbers that one cannot step on the
ground without crushing several. swarming
out OF their subterranean holes, scram bling
over the ground, all converging TO one CEN
tral point and then clambering up the trunk
OF the tree and diverglng on to its branches,
is an experience not readily forgotten and
aIordlng food for speculation on the nature
of instinct
The pupae rises as the sun goes down.
and are all out by o'clock. In an hour
more the skin splits and the forming
cicada begins to issue. At first it is
creamy white, with red eyes and two
black patches on the prothorax, some
black spots on the legs and a tinge of
orange at the base of the wings. Within
thirty minutes it has shaken clear from
the exuvium, the wings stretch out. the
legs become firm, and in single night
the development is complete and the in
sect is ready for business and Its perma-
nent and darker calvis are fixed.
The female oYiposits preferably, says
Professor Riley. in the previous years
growth of oaks. but also in the twigs of
large number of other trees. including
the chief fruit trees. but rarely in ever
green's. The eggs are laid obliquely in
double row, each row separated from the
other by portion of woody fiber wider
at the bottom than at the top. There are
six well-marked subterranean stages,
each Identified by changes in structure.
But these and other chronological de-
tails are not of general interest.
What is of deep interest to all, how
ever, is the fact that the locust is meeting
its tate and that a much-despised bird is
its invsterate enemy and likely to mega
tive its power for evil-namely, the Eng
lish sparrow, which, after all that has
been said about it and all the yials of
wrath poured upon it, comes to the aid of
man by doing successful battle with the
locusts.