X INTRODUCTION. 



It is pretty clear that Hercules had no feelmg for 

 such music, if we may credit Solinus, the naturalist 

 and p;eographer, who flourished circ. 100 a.d. He was 

 considered such a plagiarist of Pliny, that he was 

 called " Pliny's ape." Solinus says, " This is the fable 

 which gave rise to the custom of the Locrians, who 

 impressed the image of a Tettix on their coins." The 

 bank of the river on which Locris was built was covered 

 by legions of screeching Cicadas, whereas they were 

 never heard (so runs the legend) on the opposite bank, 

 where stood the town Ehegium. In explanation of this 

 circumstance, the Locrians pretended that Hercules, 

 wishing one day to sleep on this bank, was so tormented 

 by the " sweet eloquence " of the Cicadas, that, furious 

 at their concert, he asked of the gods that they should 

 never there sing evermore ; and his prayer was granted I 



The discord produced by thousands of individuals 

 echoing to each other in the higher jungles of India is 

 also testified to me by General Strachey, who knew 

 them well as inhabiting the trees on the slopes of the 

 Himalaya.* It is clear, therefore, that the interest 

 taken in the Cicadae did not wholly proceed from the 

 charm of their song. 



According to Strabo and Pausanias, the Tettix seated 

 on a harp was a recognized symbol of the Muses. 



Mr. Cecil Smith, of the British Museum, has kindly 

 given me the following notice relating to the Tettix in 

 Greek art. " The Tettix (Cicada) has frequently been 

 confounded with the Enghsh grasshopper, and from 

 this mistaken idea, representations of the Greek locust 

 in Greek art have been repeatedly considered as repre- 

 sentations of the Tettix." 



This last insect may be seen sculptured on one of 

 the marble reliefs in our National Collection ; but 



^- Sir Joseph Hooker, also, whilst remarking on the wonderful 

 abundance and often the beauty of insect-life in the Rungeet Valley, not 

 far from Darjiling, says, " The gi'eat Cicadas were everywhere lighting 

 on the ground, where they uttered a short creaking sound, and anon 

 disappeared as if by magic," — Vide 'Himalayan Journals,' vol. i., 

 p. 143. 1855. 



