The Life of the Grasshopper 



to make room for a musical-box. The essen- 

 tial vital organs are reduced to the minimum, 

 are confined to a tiny corner, so as to leave 

 a greater space for the sounding-cavity. 

 Song comes first; all the rest takes second 

 place. 



It is a good thing that the Ash Cicada does 

 not follow the teaching of the evolutionists. 

 If, becoming more enthusiastic from genera- 

 tion to generation, he were able by pro- 

 gressive stages to acquire a ventral sounding- 

 board fit to compare with that which my 

 paper screws give him, my Provence, peopled 

 as it is with Cacans, would one day become 

 uninhabitable. 



After the details which I have already 

 given concerning the Common Cicada, it 

 seems hardly necessary to say how the insup- 

 portable chatterbox of the Ash is rendered 

 dumb. The cymbals are clearly visible on 

 the outside. You prick them with the point 

 of a needle. Complete silence follows in- 

 stantly. Why are there not in my plane- 

 trees, among the dagger-wearing insects, 

 auxiliaries who, like myself, love quiet and 

 who would devote themselves to that task! 

 A mad wish ! A note would then be lacking 

 in the majestic harvest symphony. 



70 



