CICADA llCrs, (»K CONKS. <)7 
itarv in tho course* ol" ;i loiii;- period of cxislciuv' in low wci sii luii inns. 
The strict limitation of these <'oiies to ar(>as |)i-e.s(Mil iii-j- |)(MMili;ir 
conditions thoi-ouixldy dis|)i-o\'ed this theoiv. 
Sonic iu)tcs on th(* eluirncter of the luits max ])e appended. The 
fact tluit th(M-e is no e.xit orilic(> at the uM-onnd. a> deseiihed h\ M i- 
]{allivon, is conlinned l)v th(* stmhevs inadt* hv the ohserxcis cited 
above, the insect invariably clawinii: its ^vay out at lhet(.p. Mr. 
Lan(l(M- notes one instance^ wbc^re the pupal sht^ll i-emaiiKMl altacheil 
and stuclv in the suinniil of \\\c l)inTo\\, the mature insect haxiii'j" 
escapcMh According: to Mr. Lander, also, tlu* huts are probabK con- 
structiMJ at nii^ht, the insect takini:: advantai^c* of th(^ moist aii-. whic'i 
would pr(>\(Mit the too rapid dryini:' of the earth ns(>d iu iiiakini: the 
little tower and also of the didicate soft insect itself. The chambers 
niv constructed with soft ])ellets of clay or nnid 1)rou_ii"ht up from below 
and pr(*ss(Ml (irmly into place. On examination il will ])o s(hmi that 
ih(\v are well rounded and rather hrnily coni])acled within, alth()UL:;h 
the marks of th(^ chiws of the pupir are usually visible and leaves and 
slicks ar(* oft(>n incor[)orated in the w^alls. No one hasjictually 
observed the insects while at work on these structures, and, although 
Mr. Lander repeatedly broke off a number of cones to see if they would 
be repaired, the insect failed to do so whik* l)einii: watcluMl. Subse- 
([uently the l)r()ken portions were found to be recapped, ])ut at some 
little distance ])elow the broken edge. In this connection may 1)e 
(|uot(Ml the observation of Mr. Law^ton, of X^^ack, cited l)y Doctor 
Lintner. Mr. Lawton found that in every case except one the j)upa 
repaircMl the cone soon after the injury by bringing- up pellets of nuid 
and roofing over the broken portion about half an inch from the toj). 
The repairs were begun on one side and gradually extended over the 
o^xMiing horizontally, there being no attempt to form a dome-shaped 
roof. In some instances the repairing of the chamber began within 
a (piarter to half an hour after injury had been caused, and within 
three or four hours tlie opening was entirely closed over. On one 
occasion a pupa w^as caught w^ith a pellet of mud in iis <laws. 
The fact that these cones had been noted on only two or thre(^ occa- 
sions prior to 1884 led to the belief that they \\('re \(M\ rare and 
abnornnd. Their extraordinary abundance in 1 Ss ! in connection with 
Brood II would seem to indicate that they are by no ni(>aiis as rare as 
heretofore supposed, and itniay be inferred that the absence of records 
is <imply due to the lack of examination, especially in localitie-^ where 
the conditions would Ix* favorable for their appearance. This \'\v\v is 
confirmed by the announcement in a recent letter from Mr. Davis of 
the discoven' of a cone .Vpril .'30, 1808, c>n Staten Island hcdonging to 
Brood VI, which appeared that year. Tie savs that th(« con(> was just 
appearing above the dead leaves, which, with the gromid also, were 
81117— No. 71—07 7 
