Charles E. Burchfield (1893-1967), Song of the Tree Cricket, 1959-60; watercolor, gouache, white chalk and black charcoal on wove paper, 44 x 27 inches; Burchfield Penney Art Center, Purchase and partial gift from anonymous donors and Albert M. and Raquel R. Wasserman, 2003
We have been amusing ourselves the last few evenings telling the temperature by counting the notes of the tree-crickets. (The formula—the number of notes in 13 seconds, added to 42.) It is remarkably accurate. I learned that at 55, of course, the beat was one to a second; at 50, the singing ceased.
Charles Burchfield, September 1, 1938