THE SEVENTEEN-YEAR CICADA. 
By P. Sr. MicHarEL PODMORE, M.A., F.Z.S., etc. 
persistently rainy when these creatures begin 
to leave the surface, they construct tubular 
towers of clay above their holes, into which 
they retire until drier weather returns. 
Several weeks before the time for issuing 
forth they may be found beneath 
stones, rails, and other objects lying 
upon the ground, of which they 
have taken advantage for protection 
until the time for leaving their 
shell has arnved. When ready 
g. for the change they crawl to 
the side of a tree-trunk and 
erasp it tightly with them 
claws; the shell then splits 
along the back and the 
cicada draws itself out 
and remains suspended 
D. until the superfluous 
moisture has dried. 
Before the insect 
flies off it ascends 
by easy stages to 
a considerable 
height, as 
ulustrated by 
the photo- 
graph. 
HE 
Seven- 
teen-Year 
Cicada is only 
to be found in 
the United States 
of America. It is 
remarkable as the 
longest-lived and 
most wonderfully dis- 
tributed cicada to be 
found anywhere on the 
globe. 1t lives beneath 
the earth about seventeen 
years, nourishing itself upon 
the juices of the roots of 
forest and fruit trees until, 
being nearly ready to cast off 
its pupal skin to become winged, 
it bores a hole to the surface of 
the soil and comes forth. At this 
period of its existence it is a clumsy- 
looking horn-coloured object about an 
inch long, provided with curious claws 
like a crab. Should the weather be 
SIX PHASES IN THE LIFE 
OF THE SEVENTEEN-YEAR CICADA. 
A. The Cicada as it first appears after living seventeen years 
under the earth. : 
B. The empty shell of the Cicada. 3 . 
C. Two hours after freedom from the shell. From a Xu '¥ 
D. Four hours after freedom. Photograph by L¥ 
E. Six hours after freedom. P. St. Michaet f % 
F. Twelve hours after freedom, Podmore, F'.Z.S. 2 3 
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