See remarks on pp. 543, 544.
We must refer those who may wish for further information as to this complex and difficult question to the writings of the late Professor Riley, especially to Bulletin No. 8, 1885, U.S. Department of Agriculture, division of entomology; and to the more recent report by Marlatt, Bull. Dep. Agric. Ent., N.S. No. 14, 1898.
Some entomologists consider that this "railway-whistle" note is the result of the combined efforts of several individuals. Cf. Mathew, Ent. Mag. xi. 1875, p. 175.
It is unnecessary to say that the poet was not Sappho, but one of the baser sex, named Xenarchus.
Swinton claims that one of the membranes in the vocal apparatus is an auditory organ; if so, the male would be deafened by his own noise, while the females, not possessing the organ, should not hear the song.