ETYMOLOGY OF THE WORDS TETTIX AND CICADA. Ill 



A biological sketch of the writings and investigations 

 of authors who have considered the subject. 



A terminology and description of parts available for 

 classification. 



General remarks as to their life-history, repro- 

 duction, &c. 



Diagnosis of species, accompanied by coloured 

 representations of the British species of the insect. 



Notes on variation and distribution. 



Kemarks as to the probable antiquity of the group, 

 as shown by their remains in the rocks, amber, and 

 fossil resins. 



An appendix, with a bibliographical list of the chief 

 modern authors who have studied the Cicadse ; and, 

 finally, a short list of ancient and modern quotations, 

 for reference and use of the curious. 



Etymology of the words Tettix and Cicada. 



As a preliminary to the more special portion of my 

 subject, a few words may be permitted as to the 

 etymology of the above words. 



The " dry Cicada " was well known to Homer and 

 Hesiod, and the word Tettix seems to have raised in 

 the ancient poetic mind a kind of storm, difficult for 

 us now to appreciate. 



The tirst English author who wrote on the Cicada 

 was Dr. Thomas Moufat or Mouffett, an English 

 physician, who flourished in the reign of James I. 

 In 1634 he wrote, in folio, a curious Latin treatise on 

 Zoology, having for its title, ' Insectorum sive mini- 

 morum animalium Theatrum.' In this book he shows 

 his erudition by copious extracts from both Greek and 

 Latin authors. He devotes as much as ten pages of 

 his work to the description of the Cicada. He attempts 

 even something of an explanation of the origin of the 

 words Tettix and Cicada ; but when we take into 

 consideration the remarks of our learned philologist, 

 Dr. J. A. Murray, we need feel no disappointment that 



h 2 



