6 THE AMERICAN NATURALIST. (VoL. XXXIX. 
After nightfall, as well as in daytime, the high-pitched shrill 
notes of this cecanthid are uttered at irregular intervals, sound- 
ing not unlike the croaking of a frog or of a sparrow's notes 
when heard at a distance. They are not so monotonous as 
those of the large familiar black gryllid, or so resonant as the 
notes of the mole cricket. The concerts accompanying their 
little social gatherings may well be placed among the choicest 
of insect orchestrations. 
Method of Alluring the Female during Courtship. — The male 
of this cecanthid possesses a remarkable mechanism for alluring 
the female during the period of courtship. He not only uses 
the pretty modified tegmina as an artifice in attracting her, but 
he also brings into operation a most peculiar thoracic device 
about to be described. In order to attract the female, the male, 
having approached within her sight, commences his advances by 
elevating his transparent tegmina to a nearly vertical position 
or right angle. Then separating them so that their surfaces 
rub together in and out, he produces a high-pitched shrilling for 
the female's benefit. She, in turn, being readily attracted by 
these notes moves towards him, and climbing on his back goes 
sufficiently far forward that her attention is further drawn to 
the little odd-shaped glandular fossa on the back of the thorax 
between the wings. Here she at once inserts her mouth to 
find a delicious potion secreted for her special needs, and which 
she devours ravenously, as depicted in Figure 2. The male in 
the meantime may or may not cease his singing, but while she 
is availing herself of the curious plasmatic drink, his tegmina 
are continually elevated, and his wings, which are folded at his 
sides, undergo a slight rhythmical motion in and out, lasting 
during the five to ten minutes she is usually content to stay. 
When she moves away he backs around towards her, again ele- 
vating his tegmina and repeating his song. Similarly affected 
by his overtures, and remembering the reward of sweets awaiting 
her return, she again mounts his body and proceeds to partake 
from his loving cup. These executions are repeated several 
times as a preliminary to the sexual act. Now the female is 
prepared by some subtile influence exerted by the male and she 
stays near by ready to again answer to his allurements. He 
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