lis ; 



Common Cicada (Cicada Plebia). 



The Cicada, so often commemorated by the an^ 

 tient poets, and so generally confounded by the ma- 

 jor part of translators with the Grasshopper, is a 

 native of the warmer parts of Europe, and is parti- 

 cularly plentiful in Italy and Greece. The commont 

 Cicada appears in the hottest summer months, and 

 continues its shrill chirping during the greatest part 

 of the day, sitting amongst the leaves of trees. 



Atlas Moth (Phalsena Atlas). 



This is by much the largest of Moths, measuring 

 nine inches across the wings : it is a native of the 

 East Indies and South America. 



Great Black Wasp of Pensylvania. 



This Wasp supplies itself with food by rov- 

 ing about the meadows, catching grasshoppers and 

 other insects ; on ihese it feeds, and not on fruits, as 

 other Wasps do : but what is more remarkable, is 

 the method of making their nests, and providing 

 for their young. With great pains and industry they 

 scratch an horizontal hole near an inch diameter 

 and a foot long, in the steep side of a bank of loamy 

 earth ; then away the Wasp flies, and catches a large 

 grasshopper, and lodging it in the farther end of the 

 nest, there she lays an egg, and then goes and catches 

 two more, and deposits them with the other, then 

 plasters up the hole. The Q^g soon produces a mag- 

 got : these grasshoppers are, by marvellous instinct, 

 provided for its food, until it changes into its pupa 

 state, in which it lies for a certain period, and then 

 eats its way out, and flies away, seeking its mate. 

 What may deserve our farther attention is, the won- 

 derful sagacity of this creature, not only in catching 

 these large grasshoppers, though bigger than itself^ 

 which are like ours, and are very strong and nimble^ 



