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
Seated on the sunny spray,
And drunk with dew, the leaves among,
Singing sweet thy chirping song.

All the various season's treasures,
All the products of the plains,

Thus lie open to thy pleasures,
Fav'rite of the rural swains.

On thee, the Muses fix their choice,
And Phoebus adds his own,
Who first inspir'd thy lively voice,
And tun'd the pleasing tone.

Thy cheerful note in wood and vale
Fills every heart with glee;
And summer smiles in double charms

While thus proclaim'd by thee.

Like Gods canst thou the Nectar sip,

A lively chirping elf;

From labour free, and free from care,
A little God thyself!

MR. COWLEY has also the following pretty lines on this insect :

HAPPY Insect! what can be
In happiness compar'd to thee?
Fed with nourishment divine,
The dewy morning's gentle wine!
Nature waits upon thee still,
And thy verdant cup does fill.
Thou dost drink, and dance, and sing,
Happier than the happiest king!
All the fields which thou dost see,
All the plants belong to thee,
All that summer hours produce,
Fertile made with early juice.
Man for thee does sow and plow,
Farmer he, and landlord thou!
Thou dost innocently enjoy,
Nor does thy luxury destroy:
The country hinds, with gladness hear,
Prophet of the ripen'd year!

To thee of all things upon earth,
Life's no longer than thy mirth.

Happy insect, happy, thou

Dost neither age nor winter know,

But when thou'st drunk, and danc'd and sung
Thy fill, the flowing leaves among,
Sated with thy summer feast,

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