SEVENTEEN YEARS UNDER GROUND. 36S 



" How far down do the Cicadas go?" asked Penn. 

 " I hare beard said that they burrow to an immense 

 distance — ten or twelve feet from the surface." 



'" The question is fairly answered by the fact that the 

 insects must live upon roots, which rarely descend very 

 deeply. Our common annual Cicada, Pruinosa, of 

 course lives in this condition for only a twelvemonth ; 

 but the young Septemdecim spend seventeen years in 

 these dens and caves of the earth." 



"What in the world do they do all that time?" 

 asked Abby. 



"A hard question," I replied, "and one must frame 

 an answer as much by fancy as by facts. At least we 

 may say that they burrow back and fortli amid the 

 maze of roots, and drink long and deep from the streams 

 of savory sap, which they tap with their beaks. They 

 thrive and grow in siz(!. They take no end of sleep. 

 Doubtless the}' greet each other in their silent way and 

 pass who knows what communications ? in the myste- 

 rious language of the mute children of the insect world. 

 Maybe they peep and mouse into the tunnels and caves 

 of worms, snails, and countless other creatures who 

 share with them these Plutonic abodes ; and per- 

 haps vary the monotony of life, like civilized man, by 

 wars of offense and defense. Shall I give further guess ?" 



"Xo, no !" tliat is quite enough," Abby laughingly 

 rejoined, " to give one a fit of the blues at the very 

 thought. I have often had my sympathies profoundly 

 moved over the dreary fiite of my fellow-creatuies who 

 spend their life 



