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The Descent of Man

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ORDER: HOMOPTERA.<br />

Every one who has wandered in a tropical forest<br />

must have been astonished at the din made<br />

by the male Cicadae. <strong>The</strong> females are mute; as<br />

the Grecian poet Xenarchus says, "Happy the<br />

Cicadas live, since they all have voiceless wives."<br />

<strong>The</strong> noise thus made could be plainly<br />

heard on board the "Beagle," when anchored at<br />

a quarter <strong>of</strong> a mile from the shore <strong>of</strong> Brazil; and<br />

Captain Hancock says it can be heard at the<br />

distance <strong>of</strong> a mile. <strong>The</strong> Greeks formerly kept,<br />

and the Chinese now keep these insects in cages<br />

for the sake <strong>of</strong> their song, so that it must be<br />

pleasing to the ears <strong>of</strong> some men. (23. <strong>The</strong>se<br />

particulars are taken from Westwood's 'Modern<br />

Classification <strong>of</strong> Insects,' vol. ii. 1840, p. 422.<br />

See, also, on the Fulgoridae, Kirby and Spence,<br />

'Introduct.' vol. ii. p. 401.) <strong>The</strong> Cicadidae usually<br />

sing during the day, whilst the Fulgoridae<br />

appear to be night-songsters. <strong>The</strong> sound, according<br />

to Landois (24. 'Zeitschrift fur wissenschaft<br />

Zoolog.' B. xvii. 1867, ss. 152-158.), is pro-

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