ORDER VII. 



HOMOPTERA. 



Cicadidae — Harvest-flies. 



The Cicadas, G. pleheja, Linn., called by the ancient 

 Greeks, (by whom, as well as by the Chinese, they were kept 

 in cages for the sake of their song,) Tettix, seem to have been 

 the favorites of every Grecian bard, from Homer and He- 

 siod to Anacreon and Theocritus. Supposed to be per- 

 fectly harmless, and to live only upon dew, they were ad- 

 dressed by the most endearing epithets, and were regarded 

 as almost divine. Thus sings the muse of Anacreon : 



Happy creature ! what below 

 Can more happy live than thou? 

 Seated on thy leafy turone, 

 Summer weaves thy verdant crown. 

 Sipping o'er the pearly lawn, 

 The fragrant nectar of the dawn, 

 Little tales thou lov'st to sing, 

 Tales of mirth — an insect king. 

 Thine the treasures of the field, 

 All thy own the seasons yield ; 

 Nature paints thee for the year, 

 Songster to the shepherds dear; 

 Innocent, of placid fame, 

 What of man can boast the same? 

 Thine the loudest voice of praise, 

 Harbinger of fruitful days; 

 Darling of the tuneful nine, 

 Phoebus is thy sire divine ; 

 Phoebus to thy note has given 

 Music from the spheres of heaven; 

 Happy most as first of earth. 

 All thy hours are peace and mirth; 

 Cares nor pains to thee belong, 

 Thou alone art ever young. 

 Thine the pure immortal vein. 

 Blood nor flesh thy life sustain; 

 Rich in spirits — health thy feast, 

 Thou art a demi-god at least. 

 (250) 



