KHYNCOTA. 
37 
Homer speaks of “good orators” like the Cicadae, which 
sitting on 1 a tree in the woods send forth their delicate 
voice. Virgil—not in this instance, at all events—a 
copyist of Homer, writes :— 
“ Et cantu querulse rumpent arbusta Cicada?.” 
Hesiod alludes to the habit of this insect uttering his 
musical notes at the hottest part of the day :— 
“ ’Twas in that season, when on some green bough . 
High perch'd, the dusky wing’d Cicada first - 
Shrill chants to man a summer note, his drink, 
His balmy food, the vegetative dew. 
The livelong day from early dawn he pours 
His voice : what time the sun’s exhaustive heat 
Fierce drys the frame.” 
Mr. Tennyson represents both the Grasshopper and 
Cigala as silent in the heat of the day :— 
“ For now the noon-day quiet holds the hill, 
The grasshopper is silent in the grass : 
The lizard with his shadow on the stone 
Rests like a shadow, and the Cigala sleeps.” 
—QExone. 
Xenarchus of Rhodes, a comic poet, finds one element 
of happiness in the Cicada s life, in the fact that the 
female is silent :— 
“ Happy the Cicadas’ lives 
Since they all have voiceless wives.” 
But probably Xenarchus was not very fortunate in his 
matrimonial alliance. 
The Fulgoridce , or Lanthorn-flies of hot countries, 
often of a large size and said to be luminous in some 
