A Neiv Species of Cicada, from the Cascade Mountains. 431 



evaporated between the body and the old skin, which at last 

 cracked, as in the pupa, and through the rent, the whole body, 

 wings, legs, and antennae were drawn from their separate cases ; 

 then bidding good-bye to its old habitation, it crawled off, 

 leaving its deserted skin clinging to the branch where the 

 struggle took place. 



A very few days sufficed to show that the insect had 

 attained its perfect form ; the male commenced singing, and 

 soon chose his silent wife. 



The most distinctive character of this group of insects is 

 found in the peculiar structure, by which the male is enabled 

 to execute the shrill, prolonged, and singular music that was 

 so prized by the ancients. These organs are situated at the 

 base of the abdomen, and covered by two large flat plates, at- 

 tached behind the place of insertion of the hind legs, but varying 

 in form in different species, " being, in fact, the dilated sides 

 of the metasternunr" (West. CI. In.). It is in reality a very 

 beautifully-contrived musical instrument ; there are drums and 

 sounding-boards, with strings as tight and elastic as those of a 

 banjo. There is also an air sac on each side of the intestinal 

 canal, which is inflated by the opening and shutting of the 

 wings. Connected with these sacs are valvular appendages, 

 over which are stretched pieces of membrane, much like the 

 skin of a banjo. The wings are always kept vibrating rapidly 

 whenever the insect sings, striking against the drums ; air at 

 the same time being forced through the holes, or stomata, at the 

 articulation of the wings, from the air- sacs previously spoken of 

 — a veritable organ-pipe and bellows. Watching the cicada, 

 whilst a prisoner, it was curious to observe its movements, prior 

 to commencing its song. First of all the wings were opened and 

 slowly shut, to inflate the air-sacs ; then followed a gentle, 

 vibratile movement of the wings, that increased in rapidity 

 until they were hardly perceptible to the eye, producing the 

 shrill song, or noise, so difficult to describe, save that it is a 

 jubilant, joyous song, indicative of intense delight. 



The eyes of C. occidentalis are large, prominent, and red like 

 a ruby : between these larger eyes are three smaller ones, placed 

 in a triangle ; the antennas six jointed ; the sucker for extracting 

 the juices of flowers composed of four pieces that form a tube, 

 in this tube is the tonguelet, altogether a most efficient pump. 

 Nothing can be more beautiful, or more wonderfully adapted 

 to its purpose, than the ovipositor of the female. The instru- 

 ment is concealed in a groove in the last ring of the abdo- 

 men, protected by a sheath, and consisting of three pieces. 

 On either side are the files, on each of which are nine large 

 teeth ; at the ends, four smaller ones. The files are scooped 

 and hollowed out, so as to fit, and work closely into the grooves, 



