THE AMERICAN LOCUSt. 



Wax procured from a species of the cicadae. 



the fine white wax that is so much esteemed in 

 the East Indies. They form a sort of white 

 grease which attaches to the branches of trees, 

 hardens there, and becomes wax. It is scraped 

 off in the autumn, melted on the fire, and strain- 

 ed: it is then poured into cold water, where it 

 coagulates and forms into cakes. In appearance 

 it is white and glossy, and, mixed with oil, is 

 used to make candles, for which purpose it is 

 thought greatly superior to bees-wax. 



The American locrst, another species of 

 cicada, so called on account of their immense 

 numbers, is very common in Pensylvania. They 

 always leave the ground during the night. On 

 their first coming out they are in their chrysalid 

 state; but very soon afterwards the back bursts, 

 and the flying insects disengage themselves from 

 their case. For a little while they are entirely 

 white, with red eyes, and seem veiy weak and 

 lender; but, by the next day, they attain their 

 full strength and perfection, being of a dark 

 brown colour, with four finely varied transparent 

 wings. 



These insects are very active, flying about 

 from tree to tree with great agility. The female 

 is directed to the male by the loud chirping noise 

 that he makes. She lays her eggs about the lat- 

 ter end of May, piercing for this purpose the 

 tender twigs of trees with the dart from her tail. 

 With this she is able to penetrate the wood in a 

 surprisingly expeditious manner^ crowding it for 



