THIS is the insect so often commemorated by the ancient poets, and so generally confounded by the major part of translators with the Grasshopper. It is a native of the warmer parts of Europe, particularly of Greece and Italy: appears in the hotter months of summer, and continuing its shrill chirping during the greatest part of the day, generally sitting among the leaves of trees, near the ground. The ancients differ in their opinions relative to the Cicada. Virgil speaks of them as insects of a disagreeable and stridulous tone. On the contrary, Anacreon compliments them on their musical note, and makes the Cicada a favourite of Apollo. To the Grasshopper. HAPPY Insect! blithe and gay All the various season's treasures, Thus lie open to thy pleasures, On thee, the Muses fix their choice, Thy cheerful note in wood and vale While thus proclaim'd by thee. Like Gods canst thou the Nectar sip, A lively chirping elf; From labour free, and free from care, MR. COWLEY has also the following pretty lines on this insect : HAPPY Insect! what can be To thee of all things upon earth, Happy insect, happy, thou Dost neither age nor winter know, But when thou'st drunk, and danc'd and sung Thou retirs't to endless rest. THERE is also a very pleasing and elegant tale, related by ancient authors of two rival musicians, alternately playing for a prize; one of the candidates was so unfortunate as to break a string of his lyre, by which accident he would certainly have failed; when a Cicada, flying near, happened to settle on his lyre, and by its own note supplied the defective string, and thus enabled the favourite candidate to overcome his antagonist. So remarkable was the event, that a statue was erected to perpetuate the memory of it, on which a man is represented playing on a lyre, on which sits a Cicada (Grasshopper). This Insect begins its song early in the morning, and continues it during the heat of the noon-tide sun. Its lively and animated music is, to the country people, a presage of a fine summer, a plentiful harvest, and the sure return of spring. The Cicada have a head almost triangular, and oblong body, their wings fastigated or in form of a roof, and six legs with which they walk and leap pretty briskly.-GREGORY'S DICTIONARY. -DR. SHAW, &c. CICINDELA, in Zoology, THE SPARKLER. THIS is a beautiful Insect, runs with great swiftness, and flies easily. It is found in dry sandy places, especially in the beginning of Spring. It makes a perpendicular round hole in the ground, and keeps its head at the entrance of the hole to catch the in sects that fall into it: a spot of ground is sometimes entirely perforated in this manner. These insects are in general very beautiful, and merit the attention of the curious in their microscopic observations; some are minute, though not inferior in splendour, and therefore best suited for the experiment. Living subjects are ever preferable to dead ones. The Larvæ of this Insect, live under |