CHAPTER III 



THE SONG OF THE CIGALE 



Where I live I can capture five species of Cigale, the 

 two principal species being the common Cigale and the 

 variety which lives on the flowering ash. Both of these 

 are widely distributed and are the only species known 

 to the country folk. The larger of the two is the 

 common Cigale. Let me briefly describe the mechanism 

 with which it produces its familiar note. 



On the under side of the body of the male, imme- 

 diately behind the posterior limbs, are two wide semi- 

 circular plates which slightly overlap one another, 

 the right hand lying over the left hand plate. These are 

 the shutters, the lids, the dampers of the musical-box. 

 Let us remove them. To the right and left lie two 

 spacious cavities which are known in Provencal as the 

 chapels (li capello). Together they form the church 

 (la gleiso). Their forward limit is formed by a creamy 

 yellow membrane, soft and thin ; the hinder limit by 

 a dry membrane coloured like a soap bubble and known 

 in Provengal as the mirror (mirau). 



The church, the mirrors, and the dampers are 

 commonly regarded as the organs which produce the 

 cry of the Cigale. Of a singer out of breath one says 



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