218 T’. W. Harris on the Seventeen-year Locust. 
By the 21st of May they had increased rapidly, and the woods 
on the side hills were vocal with their music. ‘The male is the 
the forests are cut away.* 
Marietta, January 5th, 1847. 
In continuation of this subject, which is one of general inter- 
est, we cite the following paragraphs from the very valuable 
work of 'T. W. Harris, M. D., on the Insects of Massachusetts 
injurious to Vegetation, (pp. 171-175,) referring to the work itself 
for a more complete history of the Cicada.t—Eds. 
In those parts of Massachusetts which are subject to the visi- 
tation of this Cicada, it may be seen in forests of oak about the 
middle of June. Here such immense numbers are sometimes 
congregated, as to bend and even break down the limbs of the 
trees by their weight, and the woods resound with the din of 
their discordant drums from morning to evening. After pairing, 
the females proceed to prepare a nest for the reception of their 
eggs. ‘They select, for this purpose, branches of a moderate size; 
which they clasp on both sides with their legs, and then bending 
down the piercer at an angle of about forty-five degrees, they 1e- 
peatedly thrust it obliquely into the bark and wood in the direc- 
tion of the fibres, at the same time putting in motion the lateral 
saws; in this way they detach little splinters of the wood at one 
end, so as to form a kind of fibrous lid or cover to the perforation. 
* For Agere of the potest Cicada, see Vol. xviii, p. 47. 
t Report on the Insects of Massachusetts, injurious to Vegetation; b Thaddeus 
Williaa Biaris;2M.D:'00 bp.,Bvo. Cambridge, 18440 Sere! : 
