186 INSECTS INJURIOUS TO A'EGETATION. 



an inch long, and is of a yellowish white color, except the eyes 

 and the claws of the fore legs, which are reddish; and it is 

 covered with little hairs. In form it is somewhat grub-like, 

 being longer in proportion than the parent insect, and is fur- 

 nished with six legs, the first pair of which are very large, 

 shaped almost like lobster-claws, and armed with strong spines 

 beneath. On the shoulders are little prominences in the place 

 of wings ; and under the breast is a long beak for suction. 

 These little creatures when liberated from the shell are very 

 lively, and their movements are nearly as quick as those of 

 ants. After a few moments their instincts prompt them to get 

 to the ground, but in order to reach it they do not descend the 

 body of the tree, neither do they cast off themselves precipi- 

 tately; but running to the side of the limb, they deliberately 

 loosen their hold, and fall to the earth. It seems, then, that 

 they are not borne to the ground in the egg state by the limbs 

 in which their nests are contained, but spontaneously make 

 the perilous descent, immediately after they are hatched, with- 

 out any clue, like that of the canker-worm, to carry them in 

 safety through the air and break the force of their fall. The 

 instinct which impels them thus fearlessly to precipitate them- 

 selves from the trees, from heights of which they can have 

 formed no conception, without any experience or knowledge 

 of the result of their adventurous leap, is still more remarkable 

 than that which carries the gosling to the water as soon as it 

 is hatched. In those actions, that are the result of foresight, 

 of memory, or of experience, animals are controlled by their 

 own reason, as in those to which they are led by the use of 

 their ordinary senses, or by the indulgence of their common 

 appetites, they may be said to be governed by the laws of their 

 organization ; but in such as arise from special and extraordi- 

 nary instincts, we see the most striking proofs of that creative 

 wisdom which has implanted in them an unerring guide, where 

 reason, the senses, and the appetites would fail to direct them. 

 The manner of the young cicadas' descent, so different from 

 that of other insects, and seeming to require a special instinct 

 to this end, would be considered incredible perhaps, if it had 

 not been ascertained and repeatedly confirmed by persons who 



