Insects 367 



fitted on such different new ones, they ought 

 to know a great deal about the way to do it. 



People much more learned than Patsy are 

 in doubt over the locust — the cicada of 

 Greek poets, indeed of poets generally. 

 Some spell his name cicala — perhaps be- 

 cause they accept Ruskin's saying that the 

 first essential of poetry is untruth. The 

 name has, however, little to do with wise in- 

 certitude — that hinges upon the question of 

 whether the true locust period is seventeen 

 years. Records show seventeen-year broods 

 and thirteen-year broods. The wise men 

 divide upon the question whether the two are 

 the same, with the period of development 

 shortened by climate. The thirteen-year 

 broods are oftenest seen in south-lying 

 regions. There is also a biennial cicada — 

 but Joe and Patsy knew nothing of the difi^er- 

 ence. If they had known they would not 

 have cared. Possibly through overlapping 

 broods there were locusts at White Oaks 

 every year — sometimes very many, some- 

 times very few. 



Locusts begin existence in the shape of 

 fine pearly eggs, very much smaller than 

 grains of mustard seed. These eggs the 

 mother-locust lays in woody substance of 

 some kind, preferably growing twigs and 

 bark. She saws the twigs through to the 



