NATURE'S CRAFTSMEN 



were 665 openings. Within a circle described by a 

 radius of ten feet from the trunk of a 'large maple-tree, 

 a careful count and estimate showed 9600 openings. 

 The most extraordinary perforation was underneath a 

 beech-tree which had a spread of thirty feet in diameter. 

 Within this circle the earth was pierced with the enor- 

 mous number of 31,500 burrow-holes. In one square 

 foot of surface there were forty-one openings, and in an- 

 other space they averaged sixty-eight to the square 

 foot. 



Almost invariably the burrows were more thickly 

 placed around the bases of trees than elsewhere. This 

 naturally followed, since the roots marked the sphere 

 of subsistence during the subterranean life. With in- 

 sects as with men, one cannot escape from his past, even 

 when he seems to emerge therefrom. 



Most of the pupa) after ascension passed directly to 

 the tree or bush whereon transformation occurred. But 

 there were exceptions. In many places were little eleva- 

 tions, somewhat resembling the heaps that earthworms 

 make, but higher. These were the much-talked-of ci- 

 cada huts, turrets, or towers. They were about the 

 length and twice the thickness of a man's thumb, were 

 built immediately above the open burrow, and were 

 hollow inside. In fact, a turret is simply a continuation 

 of a burrow above the ground. The builder literally 

 carries up its hole with it! Entomologists have spec- 

 ulated as to the use of these turrets. The author's 

 opinion is that they are built by pupae who for some 

 reason had miscalculated the time of their exode. 

 They reached the top too soon, halted, and built them- 

 selves a temporary refuge, as men and cicadas who are 

 "ahead of their time" must commonly do, or die. Of 



OQO 



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