LIFE IN THE INSECT WORLD. 101 



tell you, which are called, for distinction, the 

 Seventeen Years' Locust, as it is a very curious 

 fact that these insects do not appear in the same 

 part of the country more than once in about 

 seventeen years; when they come up out of the 

 earth, where they have so long lain buried, 

 scatter themselves over the trees, bushes, and 

 ground, and fill the air with their music. 



When the locust leaves the ground, it is in its 

 chrysalis, or nympha state, as you may remem- 

 ber I told you that those chrysalides which eat 

 and move (as is the case with the locust) are 

 called nymphs. It immediately makes its way 

 to the nearest tree or bush, fastens itself to it, 

 waits a few minutes until its skin becomes dry, 

 when it bursts it open in the back, works itself 

 out of it, gradually expands its delicate wings to 

 the sun and air, and in a few hours flies away, 

 leaving its shell behind it. 



For several weeks before it leaves the ground, 

 it ascends to the top of its hole in the day-time, 

 in warm, dry weather, apparently for the pur- 

 pose of receiving the benefit of the sun's warmth, 

 and descends to the bottom in cold weather and 

 at night. The sides and top of the hole are 



