260 INSECT ARTIZANS AND THEIR WORK 



mischievous birds the thrush and blackbird their 

 prey. * Sweet prophet of the summer,' says Ana- 

 creon, addressing this insect, ' the Muses love thee, 

 Phoebus himself loves thee, and has given thee 

 a shrill song ; old age does not wear thee out ; 

 thou art wise, "earth-born, musical, impassive, 

 without blood ; thou art almost like a god.' 



" So attached were the Athenians to these 

 insects, that they were accustomed to fasten golden 

 images of them in their hair, implying at the same 

 time a boast that they themselves, as well as the 

 Cicadas, were *Ierra filii. They were regarded 

 indeed by all as the happiest as well as the most 

 innocent of animals. . . . 



" If the Grecian lettix or Cicada had been 

 distinguished by a harsh and deafening note, like 

 those of some other countries, it would hardly 

 have been an object of such affection. That it 

 was not is clearly proved by the connection which 

 was supposed to exist between it and music. Thus 

 the sound of this insect and of the harp were called 

 by one and the same name. A Cicada sitting upon 

 a harp was a usual emblem of the science of music, 

 which was thus accounted for : When two rival 

 musicians, Eunomus and Ariston, were contending 

 upon that instrument, a Cicada flying to the 

 former and sitting upon his harp supplied the 

 place of a broken string, and so secured to him the 

 victory. 



" To excel this animal in singing seems to have 

 been the highest commendation of a singer ; an< 



