20 ZOOLOGICAL SOCIETY 
Tunneling to the surface. 
ture begins the construction of a 
waterproof caisson. Feverishly 
thrusting the wet earth forward— 
the only condition under which it 
does this—a cylinder of cement- 
like mud rises to a height of from 
three to five inches, the height 
apparently calculated to allow a 
margin of safety should the 
swamp be flooded by rain. And 
from the roofs of these turrets the 
builders emerge at the same time 
the more fortunate members of the 
great swarm issue from the loamy 
ground of the adjacent country. 
Where there are trees, the emerg- 
ing creatures crawl a short distance 
up the trunk and pause. It is their 
last step as a crawling, toiling be- 
ing. The back splits open and 
from the earth-stained shell the 
Cicada caissons elevated above water level. 
BULLETIN 
locust slowly emerges. For a time, 
the soft and whitish body is pen- 
dant. Then feeble limbs grasp the 
bark and the creature drags its 
way a short distance and _ rests. 
Two crumpled bundles are slowly 
unfurled and assume the outlines of 
glistening wings. A surge of dark 
hue flares over the body, which is 
soon black, with ruddy markings. 
The eyes are brilliant red. 
Where the tunnels end in soft ground. 
It is not many hours after the 
transformation of the myriads that 
the woodlands resound with the 
strangest of insect songs. The 
continuous drone seems far away 
yet if the observer stops and listens 
intently one realizes that it is 
everywhere. This sound is pro- 
duced only by the male cicada and 
is the song of the insect’s brief 
Tunneling openings in a hard cinder path, 
