THE STRANGE CYCLE OF THE CICADA 



distance from its abandoned case, and then occurs a 

 swift and striking change. The head becomes jet black; 

 the body darkens into a dull yellow and rapitUy takes 

 upon itself a tough skin. On either side of the thorax, 

 close up to the head, two little "buds" may be seen 

 just after emergence. These are rudimentary wings. 

 The juices of the white, plump body rapidly run into 

 these winglets. They broaden and lengthen, pushing 

 downward, until within the space of from eight to fif- 

 teen minutes they have expanded into the full propor- 

 tions of the insect's wings, whose tips extend beyond 

 the end of the body. It is a pretty sight, this rapid 

 growth of the beautiful wings of a freshly emerged ci- 

 cada. As the wings expand, the body diminishes, and 

 soon assumes its normal size. 



Now follows another period of rest; but the insect 

 has completed its form. It has attained the perfect 

 stature of what is known as the "imago." By-and-by 

 it is able to stretch its new-found wings and fly into the 

 tree-tops. 



In a little while the air is filled with music. The 

 cicada-lover is serenading his sweetheart, and he woos 

 his mate to his side by sounding the little drums with 

 which he is provided. These are slight cavities, placed 

 underneath the forepart of the body and covered with 

 a membrane something after the manner of a drum- 

 head. The rapid tightening and contracting of this 

 membrane is supposed to produce the male cicada's 

 call. The females are without drums, and are there- 

 fore silent listeners to the male orchestra. An ancient 

 Grecian poet has alluded to this in his ungallant lines : 



" Happy the cicadas' lives, 

 Since they all have voiceless wives!" 

 237 



