NPPF - Canto Two Notes (1)

[Jasper Fidget]

> From: owner-pynchon-l at waste.org [mailto:owner-pynchon-l at waste.org] On
> Behalf Of David Morris
> 
> 238:  Empty emerald case, squat and frog-eyed, / Hugging the trunk
> Does anyone have a clue what this is?
> 

Maybe Kinbote is correct that it's a cicada's cast skin (exuvia):

http://www.hortnet.co.nz/key/keys/bugkey2a/cast1.htm

These tend to be brown where I live, but the ones in the photos on this site
could be called emerald I suppose (probably depends on the species).
Incidentally, juvenile cicadas are called "nymphs", and burrow underground
for usually 13 or 17 years (depends on species, but always tends to be a
primary number for some reason), then lives only 2-6 weeks as an adult.  

Also, the male cicada apparently makes the loudest sound of all insects.

Also, the letters P or W can often be made out on a cicada's wings, and
there's some folklore that maintains a P indicates peace, while a W
indicates war.

Also, cicadas are not locusts, as they are sometimes confused.

http://insects.ummz.lsa.umich.edu/fauna/michigan_cicadas/Periodical/Index.ht
ml

http://www.dancentury.com/cicada/faq.html

Jasper