371) 



FAMILY CICADIDiE. 

 (Cicadas.) (Plate 48, Fig. 4.) 



These "squeakers" or "locusts" of children are 

 really cicadas. Historically the cicada is one of 

 the most ancient of insects mentioned. A cicada 

 on the string of a cythera was the symbol of music 

 for the Greeks. We read also of these insects 

 being put in cages and used as a source of enter- 

 tainment by the Greeks. This seems rather amusing 

 to us, and a cage full of "double-drummers" would 

 be more likely to drive guests home than serve to 

 entertain them. Only the male insects are capable 

 of producing the "song." 



Cicadas are found from October to February. 

 They vary in size from one to several inches across 

 the wings. The head is somewhat triangular iv. 

 shape; the compound eyes are large and prominent; 

 between these eyes are tln^ee ocelli, or single eyes, 

 which look like jewels. (Plate 48, Fig. 9 b.) The 

 antennge are very short and inconspicuous. The 

 front part of the head is prolonged into a sheath, 

 which encloses the bristle-like mouth parts. (Plate 

 48, Fig. 5 a and Figs. 6 and 7.) This sheath is 

 jointed, and is in the form of a much-curved trough 

 or groove, opening in front. The bristles lie in the 

 groove. The wings are membranous, and are sup- 

 ported by a few strong veins; tlie hind pair >s 

 smaller than the fore wings. 



