Heat and a prolonged air-bath are necessary to harden and colour the fragile creature.

Some two hours pass without any perceptible change.

Hanging to its deserted shell by the two fore limbs, the Cigale sways to the least breath of air, still feeble and still green.

Finally, the brown colour appears and rapidly covers the whole body; the change of colour is completed in half an hour.

Fastening upon its chosen twig at nine o'clock in the morning, the Cigale flies away under my eyes at half-past twelve.
The empty shell remains, intact except for the fissure in the back; clasping the twig so firmly that the winds of autumn do not always succeed in detaching it.