THE SEVENTEEN-YEAR CICADA. 215 



and about an inch in diameter, she gathered twenty-three 

 larvae ; they were of various sizes, from a quarter of an inch 

 to an inch in length. They were on all the roots that grew 

 deeper than six inches below the surface. The roots were 

 unhealthy, and bore the appearance of external injury from 

 small punctures. On removing the outer coat of bark, this 

 appearance increased, leaving ri8 doubt as to the cause of the 

 disease." * 



The grubs do not appear ordinarily to descend very deeply 

 into the ground, but remain where roots are most abundant ; 

 and it is probable that the accounts of their having been dis- 

 covered ten or twelve feet from the top of the ground have 

 been founded on some mistake, or the occurrence of the 

 insects at such a depth may have been the result of accident. 

 The only alteration to which the insects are subject, during 

 the long period of their subterranean confinement, is an 

 increase of size, and the more complete development of the 

 four small scale-like prominences on their backs, which rep- 

 resent and actually contain their future wings. 



As the time of their transformation approaches, they grad- 

 ually ascend towards the surface, making in their progress 

 cylindrical passages, oftentimes very circuitous, and seldom 

 exactly perpendicular, the sides of which, according to Dr. 

 Potter, are firmly cemented and varnished so as to be water- 

 proof. These burrows are about five eighths of an inch in 

 diameter, are filled below with earthy matter removed by the 

 insect in its progress, and can be traced by the color and 

 compactness of their contents to the depth of from one to two 

 feet, according to the nature of the soil ; but the upper por- 

 tion to the extent of six or eight inches is empty, and serves 

 as a habitation for the insect till the period for its exit arrives. 

 Here it remains during several days, ascending to the top of 

 the hole in fine weather for the benefit of the warmth and 

 the air, and occasionally peeping forth, apparently to recon- 



* Proceedings of the Academy of Natural Sciences, Philadelphia, Nov. and 

 Dec., 1846 ; and Downing's Horticulturist, Vol. II. p. 16, July, 1847. 



