NEW ^•()RK STATE MLSEIM 



States. Tlu: first cicatlas appear in this latitude about the latter part of 

 Mayor in earl\ June, and continue till July. An enormous brood which 

 appeared in thir Hutlson river \ alley in 1894 had entirely disappeared by 

 July 20. The pupa emer^res from a circular hole or burrow about ^ inch 

 in diameter and climbs the nearest supports. Here it fi.xes itself firmly aind 

 prepares for the final transformation. The skin soon splits along the back 

 and the creamy white adult, with its red eyes and the black spots on its 

 thorax, works itself slowly out of the old case. It is soft just after 

 emerging, and as it dries the jjarts hartlen and assume the size and 

 color of the perfect insect. The cicadas may be found resting on branches 

 or twigs throughout the day or engaged in ovipositing. There has been 

 some question as to the adult feeding, but tliis has recently been settled 

 beyond all question by Prof. A. I.. Ouaintancc, who has demonstrated that 

 the insects insert their beaks into [jlant tissues, draw nourishment there- 

 from, and that the digestive trad is continuous ami functional. The 

 cicadas, however, reipiire so little nourishment during their brief e.xistence 

 that \'er}' little or no harm is tlom: in this manner. The principal injury 

 is caused by the insects .gouging the tender twigs for the ])uri)ose of insert- 

 ing their eggs. This operation has been described b\- Mr Ira H. Lawton 

 as follows : 



After finishing one fissure the female moved slowly forward about two 

 steps, depressed her ovipositor about 45", and setting her saws in motion, 

 first alternately and then simultaneously, rapidly penetrated the bark, but the 

 ovipositor was soon elevated to 25". After penetrating to the full length of 

 her ovipositor and filling that chamber with eggs, she swung a little to one 

 side anil through the same hole in the bark e.xcavated the opposite chamber 

 and fillei.1 it with eggs. The making of each chamber occupied a little over 

 20 minutes or a total of 45 minutes for the whole. During the cutting of 

 a fissure, the saws made about 80 strokes to the minute, and after making 

 four, the female would rest for a time. The head of the cicadas were 

 ilirected, in the main, from the tree but not invariably so, as some worked 

 with their heads towanl the trunk of the tree. 



.As many as 50 of these fissures nia\' be made 1)\- the female in a twig, 



providetl it is suitable, and after depositing her complement of eggs, which 



is said to be from 400 to 500, she drops from the branch and dies. The 



