CICADETTA MONTANA IN THE NEW FOREST. 



303 



they were quite mature, and had probably not recently emerged. 

 One of these I disturbed at 12.30, when it flew off with a heavy 

 and somewhat purposeless flight, for after circling round twice 

 it alighted on the turf. Although the insect passed quite close 

 to me, I could not detect the rustling of the wings mentioned by 

 other entomologists. The second was still on the bracken frond 

 at 12.50, but at 1.30 had gone. 



About this time I located a male on the branch of a pine 

 tree, being attracted to it by its lusty song. Carefully pulling 



■•' Ova of Cicadetta montana x 22. 



Photo G. T. Lyle. 



down the branch until the insect was within a foot of my face I 

 watched operations. The bug was resting longways on a twig, 

 singing loudly, the wings, both upper and lower, being quite still, 

 as were all six legs, the only motion I could detect being a very 

 slight dilation of the abdomen when the song, which was inter- 

 mittent, commenced, and a corresponding contraction when it 

 ceased ; the generative organs being also protruded and with- 

 drawn. After a time the insect walked up the twig, and I 

 particularly noticed that the song continued while the Cicada 

 was in motion. 



Like the squeak of a bat, it would appear that the note of 

 the Cicada is not audible to everyone, for a friend who was with 



