CHAPTER II 



THE CICADA: LEAVING THE BURROW 



TO come back to the Cicada after 

 Reaumur l has told the insect's story 

 would be waste of time, save that the di- 

 sciple enjoys an advantage unknown to the 

 master. The great naturalist received the 

 materials for his work from my part of 

 the world; his subjects came by barge after 

 being carefully preserved in spirits. I, on the 

 other hand, live in the Cicada's company. 

 When July comes, he takes possession of the 

 enclosure right up to the threshold of the 

 house. The hermitage is our joint pro- 

 perty. I remain master indoors; but out of 

 doors he is the sovereign lord and an ex- 

 tremely noisy and abusive one. Our near 

 neighbourhood and constant association 



1 Rene Antoine Ferchault de Reaumur (1683-1757), 

 inventor of the Reaumur thermometer and author of 

 Memoires pour servir a I'histoire naturelle des insectes. 

 — Translator's Note. 



25 



