CICADA. CICADA. 
Generic Character. 
Snout inflected. 
Antenna very short, seta- 
ceous. 
Wings four, membranace- 
ous, deflected. 
Feet in most species formed 
for leaping. 
Of this genus the most common European 
species is the Cicada plebeja of Linnaeus. This is 
the insect so often commemorated by the ancient 
poets, and so generally confounded by the major 
part of translators with the Grasshopper. It is 
a native of the warmer parts of Europe, and 
particularly of Italy and Greece; appearing in 
the hotter months of summer, and continuing its 
shrill chirping during the greatest part of the 
day; generally sitting among the leaves of trees. 
These insects proceed from eggs deposited by the 
parent in and about the roots of trees, near the 
ground. They hatch into larvae, which, when 
grown to their full size, are the Tettigometra3 of 
the ancient writers; and after having continued 
nostrum innexum. 
Antenna brevissimae, seta- 
cese. 
Ala quatuor, membrana- 
ceae, deflexae. 
Pedes plerisque saltatorii. 
