IIEMIPTERA. 187 



have witnessed tlie proceeding. On reaching the gronnd the 

 insects immediately bury themselves in the soil, burrowing ])y 

 means of their broad and strong fore feet, which, like those of 

 the mole, are admirably adapted for digging. In their descent 

 into the earth they seem to follow the roots of plants, and are 

 subsequently found attached to those which are most tender 

 and succulent, perforating them with their beaks, and thus 

 imbibing the vegetable juices which constitute their sole nour- 

 ishment. 



Miss Margaretta H. Morris, who attributes the decline of 

 the pear-tree and the failure of its fruit to depredations of the 

 young Cicadas on its roots, has given interesting accounts of 

 her observations upon these insects. On removing the earth 

 from "a pear-tree that had been declining for years, without 

 any apparent cause," she "found the larvfe of the Cicada in 

 countless numbers clinging to the roots of the tree, with their 

 suckers piercing the bark, and so deep and firmly placed, that 

 they remained hanging for half an hour after being removed 

 from the earth. From a root a yard long, and about an inch 

 in diameter, she gathered twenty-three larva^; they were of 

 various sizes, from a quarter of an inch to an inch in length. 

 They were on all the roots that grew deeper than six inches 

 below the surface. The roots were unhealthy, and bore the 

 appearance of external injury from small punctures. On 

 removing the outer coat of bark, this appearance increased, 

 leaving no doubt as to the cause of the disease." * 



The grubs do not appear ordinarily to descend very deeply 

 into the ground, but remain where roots are most abundant; 

 and it is probable that the accounts of their having been dis- 

 covered ten or twelve feet from the top of the ground have 

 been founded on some mistake, or the occurrence of the insects 

 at such a depth may have been the result of accident. The 

 only alteration to which the insects are subject, during the 

 long period of their subterranean confinement, is an increase 

 of size, and the more complete development of the four small 



* Proceedings of the Academy of Xatural Sciences, Philadelphia, Nov. and 

 Dee., 1846 ; and Downing's Horticulturist, Vol. II. p. 16. July, 1847. 



