REPORT OF THE ENTOMOLOGIST. 241 



that tlie variation is due to individual peculiarities rather than to ex- 

 ternal couditions, and it indicates that even in a species otherwise so' 

 uniA)rm in its periodical api)earance there is, to a slight degree, that 

 tcndeuey in individuals to vary which is so common an attribute of 

 most organisms. The retardation can perhaps be more readily ex- 

 l)hnned than the acceleration; for the exceptional exj)erience, alluded 

 to on page 242, of retardation in the hatching of eggs when the egg 

 punctures are closed by exudation of gum from the twigs infested, indi- 

 cates one method by which individuals may be belated. 



Whether accelerated or belated these stragglers have, so far as known, 

 appeared at the same season of the year that the main brood appeared. 

 There is some evidence, however, that exceptional temi^erature, when 

 brought to bear upon those pupce that are already near the surface of 

 the ground, may accelerate the issuing of the imago. "We have cited* 

 the case where Dr. E. S. Hull, of Alton, 111., caused some Cicadas to 

 issue as early as the 20th of March, in 1868, by constructing under- 

 ground flues for the purpose of forcing vegetables, and it is worthy of 

 being put on record here that Prof. Lester F. Ward gave his experience 

 in the autumn of 1884, before the Biological Society of Washington, to 

 the effect that he heard the song of this Cicada in October of that year. 

 There is no other record of its ever having appeared during that month, 

 and though there is nothing impossible in the occurrence (and the ex- 

 ceptionally high temperature of October, 1884, would seem to render 

 the occurrence even x^robable), yet the observation was unfortunately 

 based upon recollection and recognition of the song, and not upon ex- 

 amination of the specimens or of their pupal exuviaj. There are so 

 many reasons for doubting the accuracy of observation so based that 

 the statement must be looked upon as untenable until verified by simi- 

 lar but well-verified observations in the future. 



ENEMIES OF THE CICADA. 



When leaving the ground to transform, the pupae are attacked by a 

 number of different quadruj)eds and by birds as weU as by many can- 

 nibal insects, while in the perfect state they are also attacked by almost 

 all animals that can get access to them. Thus birds pursue them, es- 

 pecially while they are yet feeble and before their wings become strong, 

 and, as we have seen, the English sparrow was particularly destructive 

 to them in cities during this last visitation. Many of them, while still 

 feeble, and particularly those which issue from the' pupa skins near the 

 surface of the groumd, are attacked by reptiles and quadrupeds and 

 predaceous insects. We have also detected a number of enemies of the 

 eggs, especially mites. These "we shall treat of in detail in the i)roposed 

 revised bulletin on the species. A fungus, the Massospora eicadina, Peck, 

 is also very commonly found infesting the perfect insect later in the sea- 

 son when it has become enfeebled. This fungus is found in the shape 

 of a yellow, brown, or clay-colored powder permeating all parts of the 

 body and often entirely filling the abdomen, and though found in the 

 females it is most frequently noticed in the male. 



THE SUPPOSED STING OF THE PERIODICAL CICADA. 



The reports of stinging by this insect were not so common during 

 this passing year as during the appearance of other broods in years 



* First Kep. Ins. Mo., lt:6S, p. 22. 

 16 AG— '85 



