■242 
THE LIVING WORLD. 
be small in comparison with that of the mighty army of migratory locusts; the 
descent of the Goths and Vandals was insignificant in the extent and rapidity 
of devastation when compared to the speedy and effective work of the locust. 
Towards the close of the seventeenth century, for example, three swarms of 
locusts simultaneously invaded Poland, and almost, as if by magic, they covered 
the ground to a depth of several feet, loaded the trees until these bent 
beneath the weight, and exterminated every vestige of the crops and vegetation. 
In Tartary the swarming of locusts is frequent and their number illimit¬ 
able. In Barbary the people have learned how to tear off the disguise of such 
a blessing and convert the intruders into delicacies for the table. 
The Gryllidse, or Crickets, have a vertical head in which are set elliptical 
eyes; the body is cylindrical, the antennae (or feelers) long and their wings 
veined, the front pair ovate, the hind pair triangular; the legs are short and 
armed with spurs. In prehistoric times the cricket’s chirp was heard in the 
land, and the beetle droned his evening song. They are the Quakers of the 
insect world in respect to their disbelief in war and contention. They house in 
burrows, and generally live, hermit-like, alone; their never-wearisome vesper song 
is produced by rubbing together the wings, so some naturalists say, but I doubt 
it. As a rule they are herbivorous, but have been known to eat animal matter. 
The Mole-Cricket is in appearance somewhat like the mole, is of large 
size, and lives underground, being well fitted out for burrowing. They make 
endless galleries, ever changing in direction, and destroy all roots which come 
in their way. Laying as many as four hundred eggs, it is easy to see the 
rapid rate of increase. The common house cricket has been the frequent theme 
of poet’s song and household story. What story or play more familiar 
or touching than “The Cricket on the Hearth?” What sound more home-like 
or more welcome than the chirping of the cricket by the winter’s fire? Its 
love for warmth and moisture frequently leads it to take early possession of 
new houses, and to be prepared to welcome the owner amidst the discomforts 
of taking possession. It is a naturalized denizen of the United States, its pro¬ 
genitors having come from the far East, which contributes so much to the 
luxuries of life. Then there is the other little field-cricket , and yet again the 
more brightly colored tree-cricket , whose coloring, however, hardly compensates 
for the injury it does to vines and fruit trees. 
The Cicadae have two parchment-like sacs gathered into plaits and located 
in the cavity at the bottom of the abdomen ; the ribbing has all the effect of 
the reeds in an organ. The species most common in the United States is black 
above and brown beneath; others are black or brown with yellow or red markings. 
The cicada septemdecem lives a subterranean life of seventeen years, rioting upon 
the sap of forest and fruit trees. After so extended a life of apparently uninter¬ 
rupted enjoyment, the cicada digs its way to the surface, and casting off its skin 
is transformed into a winged creature of the air. The largest of the species is 
the lantern-fly of Brazil; it is greenish-yellow, spotted on the humps and on 
the side of the head, with rose-colored borders to its wings, which are also 
veined with black, and have an olive-colored spot bordered by dark brown. 
The Candle-fly, (.Fulgoria candelaria) is common in China and in the 
East Indies. They are in color orange or greenish, and have highly decorated 
wings. The children use them as pets. The lystra lavata has a peculiar method 
of escaping destruction. It secretes and projects from the abdomen silvery tape- 
