J 840.] Wild Sheep and Cicada. 443 



The Pupce* at seasons must be very abundant, and might even 

 in this country have afforded the Greeks food, as well as the 

 Pupae of the Locusts. 



* I believe I ought to have written Larva for Pupa, as they only undergo 

 a semi-metamorphosis. 



R. G. H. 



Note on the above. 



The readers of the Journal who would wish to compare the description 

 of the wild sheep of the Parapomisan range with that of the Himalayas, 

 will find Mr. Hodgson's full and accurate notice of the latter animal 

 Vol. iv. Journal Asiatic Society, p. 492. Capt. Hay, in a letter to me, 

 says, "The enclosed description of our wild sheep at Bameean differs 

 I think from the species in the Himalaya. I have now three lambs 

 in my room perfectly domesticated, but such places as they attempt to 

 climb, show the nature of the mountains they inhabit ; what think you 

 of a couple of them setting to work to climb up my chimney, nearly 

 perpendicular, but with projecting bricks here and there! I am anxious 

 to observe their habits, and if any of my notes, &c. &c. &c." 



Capt. Hay has in a part of his note on the Cicada alluded to the 

 possibility of the species of insect which he found in such numbers, or 

 their " larva' furnishing an article of food to the Greeks, in the same 

 manner as the locust. Being curious to see whether any allusion is 

 made by ancient writers to the locust, or Cicada, as an article of food 

 in countries adjacent to Bactria, I referred to the ordinary and well known 

 authorities for information. Pliny alone has, speaking of the locust, 

 (Lib. xi. cap. 29.) " Tot orbis partibus vagatur id malum. Parthis et lice 

 cibo gratce" No mention is made of the insects in the accounts extant 

 of Alexander's march (Arrian. Quint. Curt.), nor even in Strabo (Lib. xv.) 

 for the ordinary use of the locust as an article of food with the Boeotians, 

 v, Aristoph. Acharnes. Act. iv. scene 7. 



(iroTzpov aicpi$£Q rj&iov eariv, rj KiyXai.) 



The querist being informed, in reply to this, that "locusts are much 

 better flavoured" (than thrushes) v. also scene 1 of the same act, where 

 a Boeotian comes in selling them, calling them " the four winged." I did 

 not like to publish the whole of Capt. Hay's note, without remarking on 

 what might have appeared startling. fH 



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