220 Animal Life 
Durmg the spring of 1902 I was the guest of Senator Coffin at Munrrkirk, 
Maryland, U.S.A. Here the cicada appeared in millions, and during our rambles 
over his park, and with his kindly help, I was able to note the development of 
these insects from the first shaking of the surface earth until they had attained their 
full maturity and beauty. 
The Cicada Septemdecim is a medium-sized black insect with large bright-red eyes, 
banded with red on the abdomen and with red and orange veins to the base and costal 
margin of both pairs of wings. The legs are short and stout, not fitted for leaping, 
and the fore-thighs quite thick. The most distinctive peculiarity, which has no parallel, 
appears in the organs of sound. These consist of two large parchment sacs, mbbed 
and gathered into numerous plaits, furnished with powerful muscles and situated in large 
cavities at the base of the abdomen. When in action the air is driven with great 
force against the ribbed surface, and vibrations are set up which produce the sound. 
These cicadas appear to delight in a chorus, the notes resembling fa-rrho. The male 
alone possesses the organs of sound perfectly developed. Sounds may be produced even 
after death by pulling the fibres of the musical apparatus on the side of the abdomen. 
The noise of these wonderful insects is extraordinary, being so loud that it can be 
heard a mile away. We found it difficult to make ourselves heard under the forest 
trees unless we used a loud voice. The female deposits her eggs by ingeniously 
severing the thin bark of tender twigs and placing the eggs, as though in hiding, 
between the slit wood. In due course these ruined twigs decay and fall to the ground. 
The erub is shortly afterwards hatched, and immediately commences to burrow into the 
earth. For seventeen years if continues to dwell beneath the ground. hese insects 
made their first recorded appearance in Maryland during the spring of 1749. Since that 
time they have reappeared every seventeen years. 
The Seventeen-Year Cicadas do not attack the foliage or corn, but they seem to 
act as Nature’s pruners. I could not help commenting upon the condition of the trees 
during my rides from Beltsville to Munkirk. The season was early June, but the 
trees bordering the road had the appearance of late November. The central boughs 
were covered with the rich green of spring, but in every case the extending branches 
were withered and dead. The leaves of these boughs were dry and lifeless, causing a 
rustling autumn sound incongruous with the season of the year. 
Most animals (and especially dogs) take great delight in eating the cicada, and 
many experiments have been made to encourage people to utilise this imsect as an 
article of food. One gentleman introduced “cicada soup” as a novel dinner course, 
and several others described in the press the various tasty uses to which these 
creatures could be devoted. Few, however, were brave enough to follow these 
enthusiasts. The insect is doubtless wholesome and nutritious. Dogs, pigs, and 
poultry became so fat on Senator Coffin’s estate during the abundant supply of cicada 
that if was found to be necessary to shut them off from the woods. They became 
even fastidious over thei ordmary food, and frequently left it untouched. The palpable 
enjoyment of these feasters upon the tasty imsect was very amusing, though hardly 
appetising if viewed before breakfast. The cicada, in its immature state, congregates 
in thick clusters. These clusters are frequently added to by the heavy flight of the 
millions that pass from tree to tree. JI have seen a large knob of these clustered 
cicadas fall with a thud to the ground, and even the anxious watchers beneath have 
been obliged to pause amidst the surfeit of the abundance. 
The first time I examined a living cicada I could not restrain a feeling of nausea 
and revulsion. It is doubtless the disgusting look of these imsects that deters so many 
from testing their edible qualities. Their eyes, which are very prominent, are a bright 
fiery red, and give the insect an uncanny appearance both during the day and night, 
