The Cicada: the Transformation 



head above and the metathorax below, with- 

 out spreading farther. The wrapper of the 

 skull breaks crosswise, in front of the eyes; 

 and the red stemmata appear. The green 

 portion uncovered by these ruptures swells 

 and protrudes over the whole of the meso- 

 thorax. We see slow palpitations, alternate 

 contractions and distensions due to the ebb 

 and flow of the blood. This hernia, work- 

 ing at first out of sight, is the wedge that 

 made the cuirass split along two crossed 

 lines of least resistance. 



The skinning-operation makes rapid pro- 

 gress. Soon the head is free. Then the 

 rostrum and the front legs gradually leave 

 their sheaths. The body is horizontal, with 

 the ventral surface turned upwards. Under 

 the wide-open carapace appear the hinder 

 legs, the last to be released. The wings are 

 distended with moisture. They are still 

 rumpled and look like stumps bent into a 

 bow. This first phase of the transformation 

 has taken but ten minutes. 



There remains the second, which lasts 

 longer. The whole of the insect is free, ex- 

 cept the tip of the abdomen, which is still 

 contained in its scabbard. The cast skin 

 continues to grip the twig. Stiffening as the 



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