The Foamy Cicadella 



the form of a pretty httle, brown-striped 

 Cicadella. It is then able to take enormous 

 and sudden leaps, which carry it far from 

 the aggressor; and it leads an easy life, un- 

 troubled by the foe. 



Looked upon as a system of defence, the 

 frothy stronghold is indeed a magnificent in- 

 vention, much superior to the squalid work 

 of the invader of the lily. And, strange to 

 say, the system has no imitators among the 

 genera most nearly allied to the froth- 

 blower. 



In her larval form, the Asparagus-beetle 

 is victimized by the Fly because she does not 

 follow the example of her cousin, the Lily- 

 beetle, and clothe herself in her own drop- 

 pings. Even so, on the grass, on the trees 

 displaying their tender leaves, other Cica- 

 dellae abound, no less exposed to danger 

 from the Warbler seeking a succulent morsel 

 for his little ones; and, as they draw out the 

 sap through the punctures made by their 

 suckers, not one of them thinks of making it 

 effervesce. Yet they too possess the elevator- 

 pump, which they all work in the same 

 manner; only they do not know how to turn 

 the end of their intestine into a bellows. 

 Why not? Because instincts are not to be 



445 



