216 TETTIX AND CICADA. 



to the sound of a vibrating wire ; and those of another, in the 

 swamps of North America, to the ringing of horse-bells. 

 Similitudes these of sounds sufficiently agreeable ; but contrasted 

 therewith, and almost drowning them, come the discordant com- 

 parisons of numerous other travellers respecting the same or 

 insects of an allied species. One is called by Dr. Shaw " an 

 impertinent creature, stunning the ear with shrill ungrateful 

 squalling." The noise of a species in Java is described by 

 Thuuberg as shrill and piercing as the notes of a trumpet ; 

 while Sineathman speaks of another common in Africa, which 

 emits so loud a sound as to be heard at the distance of half a 

 mile, or, when introduced into the house, to silence by its song 

 the voices of a whole company. The mighty " waits " of the 

 Fulgora, or Great Lanthorn Fly of Guyana, an insect not of 

 the same but an allied family, has also obtained the name of 

 " Scare-sleep," -its din being likened to the sound of razor- 

 grinding. 



On the whole, therefore, it would appear pretty clearly that 

 loudness is the main characteristic of the Cicada's song. Yet 

 when we recognise, in this insect minstrel, the " Anacreontic 

 Grasshopper," the " Son of Phoebus," the " Favourite of the 

 Muses," the " Nightingale of the Nymphs," the " Emblem 

 of perpetual Youth and Joy," the " Prophet of the Summer," 

 we no longer marvel that its notes, however harsh, should have 

 sounded melodious even in the ear of the polished Athenian. 



To descend to present times and native performers, first, 



