26 THE CAUSES WHICH PROPAGATE 



and Bordeaux^ where, according' to Leon Dufour, there remains 

 not a trunk of ash where the perforations of its grubs are not 

 manifest. In Spain also it is common in the environs of Malap^a, 

 where it resorts in preference to the olive trees and stalks of the 

 agaves. Near Turin, where the southern fig and olive-yards 

 are replaced by slim oak forests and vineyards, with trees of a 

 temperate character, this Cicada on first emerging betakes itself 

 to the sunny vine poles and tree trunks ; but, soon scorning such 

 lowly haunts, the males fly up on to the high poplars that line 

 the streams, or nestle among the sun-chequering umbrage of the 

 solitary plane-tree walks, and here ring out a busy and mono- 

 tonous murmur wide over the landscape. Chip! chip! chip! 

 There is a pretty Greek lay to an oak-frequenting Cicada of such 

 lofty habit in the " Anthologia " — 



" Aerialbranches of tall oak, retreat 

 Of loftiest shade for those who shun the heat ; 

 With foliage full, more close than tiling, where 

 Dove and cicada dwell aloft in air. 

 Me too, that thus my head heneath you lay, 

 Protect, a fugitive from noon's fierce I'ay." 



GoLDwiN Smith. 



Since the music of the Cicadse, like that of other diurnal 

 choristers, is intrinsically harsh, harmonious alone in sunlight 

 amid rural scenes, this in itself may constitute a reason why it 

 should be distasteful to the melancholy east of the Italian, and 

 more accordant with the Greek and Germanic tongues. There 

 is nothing refreshing in the melody when contrasted with the 

 fitful twitter of a belated Leaf -cricket from a shaded willow, 

 whose note comes with the trickling coolness of a mossy spring ; 

 it is essentially a type of Nature barren and dry, a creature of 

 the dog days. Certain is it when we pass from Greece to Italy 

 the music of the Tettiges is universally condemned. The song 

 divine that supplied a broken harp string in the lyric games 

 becomes a personification of conceit in " Phaedrus,''^ where the very 

 night owl hooting around the Capitol was weary of this monotony 

 of the Pincian. 



" If ways do not accommodate they're tried, 

 And oft receive the punishment of pride. 

 A Cicada was jeering of a day, 

 A Night Owl in her harsh and noisy way ; 



