MUSIC-MAKING INSECTS. ;U7 



had been quite familiar. It wasalil tie hollow tube of tin, 

 over which a stiff piece of writing-paper was stretched 

 and securely fastened. This Harry called the "buzzer." 

 Through two holes in the paper was drawn a horse- 

 hair, which at the other end was looped around a stick. 



Harry took his stand in the middle of the room, 

 touched the tip of the stick to his lips, and then rapidly 

 whirled the implement through the air. The hair 

 straightened out, the buzzer i-evolved, the loop tightened 

 upon and moved around the stick, and amidst the laugh- 

 ter and plaudits of our company ; the room was filled 

 with a shrill, quivering, rattling noise : 



" Cr-reek I Cr-r-eck ! cryee-ee-ee-e-e-ick-i-i-ii-ii-ee-ee- 

 eek .'" 



The sound thus produced was an admirable imitation 

 of the cicada's note, and Harry's illustration was 

 warmly applauded as a great success. 



"]*^ow," said Abby, "you must explain for us the 

 philosophy of Harry's toy. How does it make this 

 noise ?" 



" The principle is a very simple one. The horse-hair 

 loop rasps against the stick as it is twirled around, the 

 vibrations thus produced are carried along the hair to 

 the stiff paper, which acts as a sounding-board to them. 

 The tube or little box serves as a resonator, to increase 

 the intensity of the tone. The notes, of course, arc 

 varied according to the velocity of the 'buzzer.' The 

 toy may be nia,de with a spool, the liole Ihrough which 

 is sufficient to make a oood resonator." 



The Doctor had followed Harry's movements with 



