HEMIPTERA. 1G9 



lay in immense numbers under the trees, entirely empty, and per- 

 fect in shape. The winged insects did not, so far as I could as- 

 certain, eat any thing. Motion and propagation appeared to be 

 the whole object of their existence. They continued about four 

 or five weeks, and then died." Previous to this event " the 

 females laid their eggs in the tender parts of oak branches, near 

 the extremities, making a longitudinal furrow, and depositing rows 

 of eggs therein. They then sawed the branch partly off below 

 the eggs, so that the wind could twist off the extreme part con- 

 taining the eggs, and let it fall to the ground. In this way they 

 injured the trees extensively. The forest had a gloomy appear- 

 ance from the number of these extremities partially twisted off, 

 and hanging, with their dead leaves, ready to fall. In a few weeks 

 they were nearly all separated from the trees, and carried their 

 vital burdens to the earth, which was, certainly, well seeded for a 

 harvest in 1838. I know of no other damage which they did." 

 " I believe the locusts appear in different places, in different 

 years, and understand that the locust-year, in some place? not far 

 distant, is different from their year in this town." This letter 

 was accompanied by specimens of the insects, in their various 

 states, obtained and preserved by Mr. Goodwin. 



The writer of an article in the " Boston Magazine " for Novem- 

 ber, 1784, observes that Mr. Morton must have been mistaken as 

 to these insects, in saying that they eat up the green things, which, 

 from the structure of their mouths, we now know could not have 

 been the case. This writer also records the appearance of these 

 insects in 1784, and the place of his residence, in which this oc- 

 curred, is believed to have been in the County of Bristol ; which 

 coincides with the remark made by Mr. Goodwin, that in different 

 places they appear in different years. This remark is further- 

 more confirmed by the observations of various persons* who 



* Among the authorities which I have consulted upon the history of the 

 17-year Cicada, may be mentioned the Rev. Andrew Sandel, of Philadelphia, an 

 abstract of whose account is given in the 4th vol. of Mitchill and Miller's " Medical 

 Repository," p. 71; the " Columbian Magazine," vol. 1, pages 86 and 108; Mr. 

 Moses Bartram's account in Dodsley's " Annual Register " for 1767, p. 103; Dr. 

 McMurtrie, in the 8th vol. of the " Encyclopaedia Americana," p. 43; Dr. S. P. 

 Hildreth's interesting account in the 10th vol. of Silliman's " American Journal of 



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