Fig. 119. CICADA. 



INSECT MINSTRELS. 



CHAPTEE XLIX. 



" Nunc cantu crebro rumpunt arbusta Cicadae ; 

 Nunc etiam in gelida sede lacerta latet." 



THE three great performers are the Cicada, the Grass- 

 hopper, and the Mole Cricket. Of these, the first 

 holds the palm. The Cigale is a true musician. In 

 vain the Grasshopper rubs and rasps his hard front 

 wings together, and the Mole Cricket sends up from 

 the entrails of the earth his subterranean sounds. 

 Marsyas is no match for Apollo. 



There is nothing ethereal about the Grasshopper 

 with his solid body and coarse appetite. He has 

 great ability, perfect command of his instrument, and 

 marvellous execution, but no genius ; the divine afflatus 

 is wanting. "We listen, but we feel no rapture ; for 

 we know we could make as loud a noise ourselves if 

 we worked with sufficient energy. 



But we love the Mole Cricket (Fig. 120) : we delight 

 to listen to his song, for he is one of the harbingers of 

 Spring. When we hear towards evening in the Olive 

 grove the merry sound, like the tinkling of an electric 



