INSECTS: STINGS AND OVIPOSITORS 161 



(Tettigonia)) one of which in its larva state emits the little 

 mass of froth so common on shrubs, and called cuckoo- 

 spit, are furnished with a set of tools for their own private 

 carpentry, which, though less elaborate than those of the 

 saw-flies, are worthy of a moment's glance. If we catch 

 one of these vaulters and gently press the abdomen, we 

 shall see proceeding from its hinder and lower part, a 

 thickish piece, large compared with the size of the insect, 

 which it is then easy to extract with a pair of fine pointed 

 pliers. I have just done this, and here is the result on a 

 slip of glass. 



First there is a pair of brown protecting pieces, oblong 

 in form, and studded with hairs like the rest of the ex- 

 terior of the body. From between them projects what 

 resembles a lancet, of the usual translucent amber- colored 

 horn, appropriated to these instruments (which is to them 

 what steel is to us) ; and which we shall presently discover 

 to be composed of two blades exactly alike, convex with- 

 out and concave within, applied face to face. One edge 

 of this pair of implements is quite smooth, but the other 

 is cut into the most beautifully regular and most minute 

 teeth. 



This, however, is but the sheath. Within the two 

 spoon- shaped faces there lie two other lancets, blade to 

 blade, still finer and more delicate. Both edges of these 

 blades are of the most perfect keenness, without a flaw; 

 but their sides appear roughened with rows of very minute 

 horny knobs, like a rasp. 



I shall illustrate this demonstration by another extract 

 from E^aumur, premising, however, that his observations 

 refer to the large species of true Cicadce from warmer lati- 

 tudes, whose machinery seems to differ from that of our 



