The Cicada: leaving the Burrow 



outside. This is invariably the case: the 

 Cicada's hole is never surmounted with a 

 mole-hill, as are the burrows of the Geo- 

 trupes, 1 or Dorbeetles, those other sturdy 

 excavators. The manner of working ac- 

 counts for this difference. The Dung- 

 beetle progresses from the outside inwards; 

 he commences his digging at the mouth of 

 the well, which allows him to ascend and 

 heap up on the surface the material which 

 he has extracted. The larva of the Cicada, 

 on the other hand, goes from the inside out- 

 wards ; the last thing that it does is to open 

 the exit-door, which, remaining closed until 

 the very end of the work, cannot be used for 

 getting rid of the rubbish. The former goes 

 in and makes a mound on the threshold of 

 the home; the latter comes out and cannot 

 heap up anything on a threshold that does 

 not yet exist. 



The Cicada's tunnel runs to a depth of 

 between fifteen and sixteen inches. It is 

 cylindrical, winds slightly, according to the 

 exigencies of the soil, and is always nearly 

 perpendicular, for it is shorter to go that 

 way. The passage is quite open throughout 



*Cf. The Life and Love of the Insect: chap, ix. 

 Translator's Note. 



27 



