202 NATURAL HISTORY. [CH. XIV. 



it, and found no unpleasant flavour : he also gave it 

 to some fowl, without producing any inconvenience. 

 When exposed to the air, however, it speedily 

 joses its transparency. Even after the insect has 

 obtained its perfect state, it continues to emit, at 

 different intervals, small drops of liquid. 



The Chinese are indebted to a species of cicada 

 for a white wax, which is much valued. The larva 

 of the Cicada Umbata forms a sort of grease, which 

 adheres to the branches of trees and hardens into 

 wax. In autumn the natives scrape it from off the 

 trees, melt, purify, and form it into cakes. It is 

 white and glossy in appearance, and, when mixed 

 with oil, is used to make candles, and is said to be 

 superior to the common wax, for use. Sir George 

 Staunton informs us, that he saw them busily em- 

 ployed upon the small branches of a shrub. They 

 did not much exceed the domestic fly in size, and 

 were of a very singular structure. They were in 

 every part covered with a kind of white powder, 

 and the branches they most frequented were en- 

 tirely whitened by this substance strewed over them. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



NATURAL HISTORY OF THE EPHEMERA OR MAYFLY. 



An account of the Larva and Pupa — Their Differences — The for- 

 mation of their Fins or Breathing apparatus — The Larva of an- 

 other kind of Ephemera — Their Habitations — Habits of the per- 

 fect Insect — Manner of changing its Skin — Of laying their 

 Eggs, ^c. 



The insect whose habits are now to be described, 

 has long been known to the naturalist as a dehcate 

 and fragile creature ; while the moralist has at aU 



