The Foamy Cicadella 



characias), whose milk produces much the 

 same effect as red-hot iron on the tongue; 

 but neither one nor the other would pass 

 from these narcotics or these caustics to ut- 

 terly insipid fare. 



How does the Cicadella manage to feed 

 on anything and everything, for she evi- 

 dently obtains nourishment while putting a 

 head on her liquid? I see her thrive, either 

 of her own accord or by my devices, on the 

 common buttercup {Ranunculus acris)^ which 

 has a flavour unequalled save by Cayenne 

 pepper; on the Italian arum {Arum itali- 

 cum), the veriest particle of whose leaves 

 is enough to burn the lips; on the traveller's 

 joy, or virgin's bower {Clematis vitalba), 

 the famous beggars' herb, which reddens the 

 skin and produces the sores in request among 

 our sham cripples. After these highly- 

 seasoned condiments, she will promptly ac- 

 cept the mild sainfoin, the scented savory, 

 the bitter dandelion, the sweet field eringo, 

 in short, anything that I put before her, 

 whether full-flavoured or tasteless. 



As a matter of fact, this strange catho- 

 licity of diet might well be only apparent. 

 When the Cicadella punctures this or that 

 herb, of whatever species, all that she does 



439 



