374 



UNITED STATES. 



they are of a high amber colour, have acquired their 

 strength, and are able to contend with some of their 

 enemies. The weaker ones, and those who do not 

 leave the earth till morning, do not so easily effect 

 their transformation, and often prove a prey to the 

 larger and even the smaller birds. 



While in the grub worm state, there is a fissure in 

 the back of the skin, sufficiently large to admit the 

 locust to pass therefrom, which, notwithstanding, is 

 not made without great exertions, as has been before 

 noticed. When Ibis escape is effected, the insect 

 leaves the place where its covering is, and rests at 

 a very short distance from it, where it remains 

 until the moisture is evaporated from its body. It is 

 in this situation that our admiration is in a very lively 

 manner excited by the sudden manner of unfolding 

 its wings ; which, as has already been remarked, are 

 folded up in so narrow a compass, that the insect ap* 

 pears to have none ; although after our surprise from, 

 the first object of our observation has subsided, we 

 plainly discover a large protuberance at the insertion 

 of the wings, yet these folds are arranged in the 

 most nice and delicate manner ; so that an inattentive 

 observer would imagine the insect was entirely des* 

 titute of them. Yet a second and a third subject re- 

 pays us, even in this instance, for our close inquir)'-* 

 The wings, as well as the insects, when first pro- 

 truded from the grub case, are very moist and ten- 

 der ; though by degrees they dry, and become firm 

 and rigid. But should any accident prevent the ci- 

 cada from a free expansion of its wings, for a consi- 

 derable time after the grub case is forsaken^ the poor 



