THE SEVENTEEN-YEAE CICADA. 
211 
The seventeen-year Cicada (^Cicada septendecim of Lin¬ 
naeus), (Plate III. Fig. 7,) in the winged state, is of a 
black color, with transparent wings and wing-covers, the 
thick anterior edge and larger veins of which are orange-red, 
and near the tips of the latter there is a dusky zigzag line 
in the form of the letter W; the eyes when living are also 
red; the rings of the body are edged with dull orange ; 
and the legs are of the same color. The wings expand 
from 2^ to inches. 
In those parts of Massachusetts which are subject to the 
visitation of this Cicada, it may be seen in forests of oak 
about the middle of June. Here such immense numbers 
arc sometimes cono-regated, as to bend and even break down 
the limbs of the trees by their weight, and the woods re¬ 
sound with the din of their discordant drums from mornino* 
CT 
to evening. After pairing, the females proceed to prepare 
a nest for the reception of their eggs. They select, for this 
purpose, branches of a moderate size, which they clasp on 
both sides with their legs, and then, bending down the piercer 
at an angle of about forty-five degrees, they repeatedly thrust 
it obliquely into the bark and wood in the direction of the 
fibres, at the same time putting in motion the lateral saAvs, 
and in this way detach little splinters of the Avood at one 
end, so as to form a kind of fibrous lid or coA*er to the 
perforation. The hole is bored obliquely to the pith, and 
is gradually enlarged by a repetition of the same operation, 
till a longitudinal fissure is formed of sufficient extent to 
receAe from ten to tAventy eggs. The side-pieces of the 
piercer serve as a grooA^e to coiiA^ey the eggs into the nest, 
Avhere they are deposited in pairs, side by side, but separated 
from each other by a portion of Avoody fibre, and they are 
implanted into the limb somewhat obliquely, so that one end 
points upAvards. When tAvo eggs have been thus placed, 
the insect AAnthdraAvs the piercer for a. moment, and then 
inserts it again and drops tAAm more eggs in a line AAuth the 
first, and repeats the operation till she has filled the fissure 
