Insects 367 



fitted on such different new ones, they ought 

 to know a great deal about the way to do it. 



People much more learned than Patsy are 

 in doubt over the locust the cicada of 

 Greek poets, indeed of poets generally. 

 Some spell his name cicala perhaps be- 

 cause they accept Ruskin's saying that the 

 first essential of poetry is untruth. The 

 name has, however, little to do with wise in- 

 certitude that hinges upon the question of 

 whether the true locust period is seventeen 

 years. Records show seventeen-year broods 

 and thirteen-year broods. The wise men 

 divide upon the question whether the two are 

 the same, with the period of development 

 shortened by climate. The thirteen-year 

 broods are oftenest seen in south-lying 

 regions. There is also a biennial cicada 

 but Joe and Patsy knew nothing of the differ- 

 ence. If they had known they would not 

 have cared. Possibly through overlapping 

 broods there were locusts at White Oaks 

 every year sometimes very many, some- 

 times very few. 



Locusts begin existence in the shape of 

 fine pearly eggs, very much smaller than 

 grains of mustard seed. These eggs the 

 mother-locust lays in woody substance of 

 some kind, preferably growing twigs and 

 bark. She saws the twigs through to the 



