2f)2 THE CICADAS. 



noise, of use in alluring the females. Some nattv 

 ralists suppose that this noise is caused by the flap- 

 ping of the lamella? against the abdomen : others by 

 the rustling of the segments of the body in the con- 

 tractile motion of that part ; and Beckmann, that it 

 is caused by the beating of the body and legs against 

 the wings. The lamellae, on examination, do not 

 appear to have sufficient freedom of motion to pro- 

 duce such a sound. ' 



Those of the hottest climates make the loudest 

 noise. From the papers of Mr. Smeathman, who 

 resided a considerable time in Africa, it appears that 

 some are so loud as to be heard to the distance of 

 half a mile; and that the singing of one of them in 

 a room will immediately silence a whole company. 

 Professor Thunberg says that one of the Javanese 

 species makes a noise as shrill and piercing as if it 

 proceeded from a trumpet. 



Several of the species were known to the ancients, 

 who made them the emblems of eternal youth. 

 They deemed them creatures beloved both by Gods 

 and men ; and indulged many poetical fictions con- 

 cerning them, but particularly that they subsisted 

 onlv on dew. The Athenians wore golden Cicada? 

 in their hair to denote their national antiquity, or 

 that, like these creatures, they were the first-born of 

 the earth. Anacreon, addressing one of them, de- 

 picts, in glowing colours, the felicity that they were 

 universally supposed to enjoy. 



Happy creature ! What below 

 Cau more happy live than thou ? 



