ORDER II.—BUGS. 65 
Figure 17. 

Red-eyed Cicada. 
ed States, is called the ‘‘Seventeen-years’ Locust,” makes 
its appearance every year, according to my observations 
when abroad; and during my twenty-seven years’ residence 
in this country I have seen some of them every year, but 
myriads in 1829, 1834, 1843, and afterward. 
Linneus gave the specific name ‘ Septemdecim’” to the 
Red-eyed American Cicada, because with the specimens of 
this insect sent him from America he was told that it ap- 
peared only every seventeen years—an opinion that still 
now extensively prevails throughout our country. But rea- 
soning from analogy alone controverts this opinion; for if 
we consider that all other species of Cicadas, either of the 
same size, or larger, or smaller, subject to the same meta- 
morphosis and manner of living, spend only two years in 
attaining their perfect condition, why should the Red-eyed 
Cicada alone form an exception to this natural law of their 
species ? 
But facts speak in an unanswerable tone in this matter. 
According to Dr. Hildreth’s account of the Cicada septem- 
decim, or Seventeen-years’ Locust, in Professor Silliman’s 
Journal, No. xviii., July, 1830, this insect appeared in 1829 
in immense numbers in the States of Mississippi, Missouri, 
Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. But 
the same quantity were observed five years after, in 1834, 
in the States of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Mary- 
