THE STRANGE CYCLE OF THE CICADA 



course, the turrets are simply the mud-ball borings from 

 the tunnel as the pupse dig their way upward, and 

 which, as they near the surface, they carry before them 

 instead of pushing behind them. Naturally and almost 





CICADA CITY OF MUD HUTS, OR TURRETS 



inevitably the dumpings would assume a tubular form 

 around the opening from the ground. 



There are few things in nature more wonderful than 

 the common impulse which seizes these millions of 

 undeveloped insects living in dark tunnels underneath 

 the ground and urges them to cut their way upward, 

 that they may complete their appointed life in the 

 upper air. Stirred by this strange unrest, the mighty 



233 



