The necessary vital organs are extremely small, confined to a mere corner of the body, in order to increase the amplitude of the resonating cavity.
Song comes first of all; other matters take the second rank.
It is lucky that the _Cacan_ does not follow the laws of evolution.

If, more enthusiastic in each generation, it could acquire, in the course of progress, a ventral resonator comparable to my paper trumpets, the South of France would sooner or later become uninhabitable, and the _Cacan_ would have Provence to itself.
After the details already given concerning the common Cigale it is hardly needful to tell you how the insupportable _Cacan_ can be reduced to silence.

The cymbals are plainly visible on the exterior.

Pierce them with the point of a needle, and immediately you have perfect silence.

If only there were, in my plane-trees, among the insects which carry gimlets, some friends of silence like myself, who would devote themselves to such a task! But no: a note would be lacking in the majestic symphony of harvest-tide.
We are now familiar with the structure of the musical organ of the Cigale.