HOMOPTERA. — CICADID&. 4.23 
of every Grecian bard from Homer to Anacreon. The hieroglyphics 
of Egypt also represent these insects as objects of attention, and in 
which they were emblematically represented as ministers of reli- 
gion. ‘That their music was not held by all in equal estimation, is 
evident from the line of Virgil — 
“ Et cantu querule rumpent arbusta Cicade ;” 
whilst the same poet also alludes to their singing in the hottest sun- 
shine, — 
* Sole sub ardenti resonant arbusta Cicadz :” 
and the Rhodian bard Xenarchus notices the peculiarity of the males 
alone being possessed of the power of singing, in his couplet--~ 
‘«‘ Happy the Cicada lives, 
Since they all have voiceless wives.” 
It is impossible to allude to the numerous fables related of these 
insects by the poets of antiquity (amongst which the story of Titho- 
nus turned into a Cicada by Auroras pre-eminent); I must therefore 
content myself by referring to Kirby and Spence’s Introduction, or to 
my article Cicada, in the British Cyclopedia of Natural History. Bur- 
meister has also collected much classical lore respecting these insects, 
in his Handbuch, vol. ii. p. 175., nor must old Mouffet be forgotten. 
The curious apparatus with which the females are provided, for 
enabling them to make slits in the branches of trees for the purpose 
of depositing their eggs therein, consists of several pieces, admirably 
fitted together. On examining the under side of the body of the female 
( fig-114.7.), the eighth dorsal segment is seen to be deflexed at the sides, 
forming a groove beneath, enclosing two valves articulated in the mid- 
dle, as represented in my fig. 114. 8. b, b 2., b 3., and by Percheron, 
Gen. d. Ins. Hemipt. pl. 2., Réaumur, tom. v. pl. 18. f. 3. *, which 
unitedly form a kind of scabbard to a cylindrical horny borer, much 
curved at the base (fig. 114. 8. d) and dilated into alanceolated point 
at the extremity ; on viewing which from beneath (fig. 114. 9.), it ap- 
pears serrated on each side, and furnished with two more coriaceous 
narrow plates (fig. 114. 9. =), which, however, are but the incurved 
edges of the two files of the borer, which have an alternate and 
* Burmeister only represents one articulation in the middle; see his pl. 24. fi I. 
Ane and f 2. B, C. 
