INSECT SPKECH. I23 



the}' were not affected by it, like the hive bees, but attacked 

 it and drove it out of their nest, and in one instance their 

 stings proved fatal. 



The caterpillar of the moth just mentioned is credited 

 with being able, when disturbed, to produce by drawing back 

 rapidly a sound resembling the crack of an electric spark. 

 In either of the cases cited, the source of the noise does not 

 seem to have been very well determined. 



Reference to the two insects mentioned has appeared so 

 often as almost to have become classic. 



The species of the genus Cicada, called by the ancient 

 Greeks — by whom they were often kept in cages for the sake 

 of their song — Teltix, seem, according to a distinguished 

 writer, to have been the favorites of every Grecian bard from 

 Homer and Hesiod to Anacreon and Theocritus. Supposed 

 to be perfectly harmless, and to live only upon the dew, they 

 were addressed by the most endearing epithets, and were 

 regarded as all but divine. One bard entreats the shepherds 

 to spare the innoxious tettix, that nightingale of the Nymphs, 

 and to make those mischievous birds, the thrush and black- 

 bird, their prey. "Sweet prophet of the summer," says 

 Anacreon, addressing this insect, "the Muses love thee, 

 Phoebus himself loves thee, and has given thee a shrill song ; 

 old age does not wear thee out; thou art wise, earth-born, 

 musical, impassive, without blood; thou art almost like a 

 crod." So attached were the Athenians to these insects that 

 they were accustomed to fasten golden images of them in 

 their hair, implying at the same time a boast that they them- 

 selves, as well as the CicadcB, were children of the earth. 

 They were regarded indeed by all as the happiest as well as 

 the most innocent of creatures — not, we will suppose, for the 

 reason given by the saucy Rhodian Xenarchus, when he says, 



" Happy the cicadas' lives, 



Since they all have voiceless wives." 



If the Grecian tettix or cicada had been distinguished by 



