398 NOISES OF INSECTS. 



the favourites of every Grecian bard from Homer and 

 Hesiod to Anacreon and Theocritus. Supposed to be 

 perfectly harmless, and to live only upon the dew, they 

 were addressed by the most endearing epithets, and 

 were regarded as all but divine. One bard entreats the 

 shepherds to spare the innoxious Tettix, that nightingale 

 of the Nymphs, and to make those mischievous birds 

 the thrush and blackbird their prey. Sweet prophet of 

 the summer, says Anacreon, addressing this insect, the 

 Muses love thee, Phcebus himself loves thee, and has 

 given thee a shrill song; old age does not wear thee out; 

 thou art wise, earth-born, musical, impassive, without 

 blood ; thou art almost like a god a . So attached were 

 the Athenians to these insects, that they were accustomed 

 to fasten golden images of them in their hair, implying 

 at the same time a boast that they themselves, as well as 

 the Cicadas, were Terra Jilii. They were regarded in- 

 deed by all as the happiest as well as the most innocent 

 of animals not, we will suppose, for the reason given 

 by the saucy Rhodian Xenarchus, when he says, 



" Happy the Cicadas' lives, 

 Since they all have voiceless wives." 



If the Grecian Tettix or Cicada had been distinguished 

 by a harsh and deafening note, like those of some other 

 countries, it would hardly have been an object of such 

 affection. That it was not, is clearly proved by the 

 connexion which was supposed to exist between it and 

 music. Thus the sound of this insect and of the harp 

 were called by one and the same name b . A Cicada 

 sitting upon a harp was a usual emblem of the science 

 of music, which was thus accounted for : When two 

 8 Epigramm. Delect. 45. 234. b Gr. 



