The Foamy Cicadella 



similar tools, makes the spot at which she 

 slakes her thirst give forth a limpid fluid, 

 with not a vestige of froth to it. There- 

 fore, notwithstanding its dexterity in sucking 

 up liquids, the Cicadella's mouth-apparatus 

 has nothing to do with the manufacture of 

 the foamy mattress. It supplies the raw 

 material; another implement works it up. 

 What implement? Have patience and we 

 shall see. 



The clear liquid rises imperceptibly and 

 glides under the insect, which at last is half 

 inundated. The work begins again without 

 delay. To make white of egg into a froth 

 we have two methods: we can whip it, thus 

 dividing the sticky fluid into thin flakes and 

 causing it to take in air in a network of 

 cells; or we can blow into it and so inject 

 air-bubbles right into the mass. Of these 

 two methods, the Cicadella employs the sec- 

 ond, which is less violent and more elegant. 

 She blows her froth. 



But how is the blowing done? The insect 

 seems incapable of it, being devoid of any 

 air-mechanism similar to that of the lungs. 

 To breathe with tracheae and to blow like 

 a bellows are incompatible actions. 



Agreed; but be sure that, if the insect 



431 



