49 
2. The anomalous life habit and condition of the adult is 
hardly less remarkable than its larval history. It is not to be 
overlooked that the comparatively brief period of adult life, 
rarely exceeding a month, as compared with the long and subter- 
ranean life of the larva is not without its fair counterpart among 
not a few insects. Such for instance as the May-fly, whose larval 
period of some two or three years is followed by an adult life 
period of hardly more than a day. 
During its adult life this insect takes little or no food, tho 
this is a matter of some controversy and will be considered far- 
ther in a later connection. 
3. The anomalous phenomenon of a second race, Cicada 
tredecim, not distinguishable morphologically from the former 
and often overlapping into the same regions and occurring at the 
same time in many cases has been a more or less perplexing prob- 
lem, whose solution may even yet be considered unsettled. That 
its southern general range is in some way related to the shorter 
period seems not improbable, but in just what way is uncertain. 
If the one was derived from the other why may we not have 
instances of such mutations? But so far as is known there is no 
shred of evidence that such mutations occur. Experiments have 
thus far apparently failed to afford additional light. 
4. Distribution. This is various, though limited somewhat 
closely within the range of deciduous forests, and excluded from 
the predominently coniferous forest ranges, hence we have no 
record within the coniferous regions of northern New York and 
Minnesota. Furthermore it does not extend beyond the limits of 
the Rocky Mountains. This range of distribution may be safely 
regarded as due to the lack of adaptation of either the adult or 
larva to ovipositing or food habit in a coniferous environment. 
The occurrence of this insect in considerable numbers in our 
vicinity during the past spring, 1899, and the unique interest 
attaching to its nature as above noted makes fitting some review 
of its occurrence and history in this county. So far as records 
are available we are able to trace its occurrence back by the fol- 
lowing stages: 
1882, this occurrence will be recalled by many here present. 
