216 TETTIX AND CICADA. 



to the sound of a vibrating wire ; and those of another, in the 

 swamps of North America, to the ringing of horse-bells. Simil- 

 itudes these of sounds sufficiently agreeable ; but contrasted 

 therewith, and almost drowning them, come the discordant 

 comparisons of numerous other travellers respecting the same 

 or insects of an allied species. One is called by Dr. Shaw, 

 " an impertinent creature, stunning the ear with shrill un- 

 grateful squalling." The noise of a species in Java is de- 

 scribed by Thunberg, as shrill and piercing as the notes of a 

 trumpet ; while Smeathman speaks of another common in 

 Africa, which emits so loud a sound as to be heard at the dis- 

 tance of half a mile, or, when introduced into the house, to 

 silence by its song the voices of a whole company. The 

 mighty " waits " of the Fulgora, or Great Lanthorn Fly of 

 Guyana, an insect not of the same but an allied family, has 

 also obtained the name of "Scare-sleep," its din being likened 

 to the sound of razor-grinding. 



On the whole, therefore, it would appear pretty clearly that 

 loudness is the main characteristic of the Cicada's song. Yet 

 when we recognise, in this insect minstrel, the "Anacreontic 

 Grasshopper," the " Son of Phoebus," the " Favourite of the 

 Muses," the "Nightingale of the Nymphs," the "Emblem of 

 perpetual Youth and Joy," the " Prophet of the Summer," we 

 no longer marvel that its notes, however harsh, should have 

 sounded melodious even in the ear of the polished Athenian. 

 To descend to present times and native performers, first, 



