116 HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA. 
MICRUTALIS, gen. nov. 
Genus Acutali et Trachytali affine, sed ab illo tegminibus areis apicalibus quatuor, forma breviori, et statura 
seepissime minima, ab hoc, ut supra memoratum est, distinguendus. 
Closely allied to Acutalis, with which it has usually been included, but distinguished by the fact that the 
tegmina have only four apical areas; as a rule there is no discoidal area, but occasionally the central 
basal area has a vein running across it a little before the base, thus forming two areas; the venation of the 
wings is variable, three or two apical areas being present, but no discoidal; the tegmina are either 
entirely hyaline, or to a greater or less extent coriaceous and opaque. 
This genus presents great difficulties, and perhaps ought not to be separated from 
Acutalis in the present state of our knowledge, although I feel sure that eventually it 
will have to be even further subdivided. There are apparently two well-marked forms 
—one in which the tegmina are entirely hyaline, or with a small dark spot at the extreme 
base, and the other in which they are to a greater or less extent coriaceous and opaque ; 
in the latter case it is hard to distinguish the veins, even when the tegmina are mounted in 
Canada balsam and examined under a compound microscope, as they are of almost the 
same consistency as the opaque portion through which they run. In one case (J. binaria) 
I have found this difference to be, in part at least, sexual, and it will probably be found 
to hold in other species also. In a considerable number of the species with hyaline 
elytra the veins are very fine and scarcely traceable, while in others they are thick and 
conspicuous and approach the venation of Acutalis. ‘There are only four apical areas 
to the tegmina, and, as a rule, no discoidal; in some specimens, however, of these 
species with more stoutly veined tegmina, there is a small area cut off from the central 
basal area, as above stated, which makes the latter appear divided, with part forming a 
discoidal area; the venation, however, in these cases is very different from that of 
Trachytalis, which is abundantly distinct by other characters apart from venation. 
The species are extremely variable in several cases, and it is impossible without the 
actual comparison of the type-specimens (which I have not been able to see in all cases) 
to tell what is the correct synonymy; some of them have been described under 
Horiola, to which they cannot belong, if the figures of the tegmina given by Fairmaire 
(Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. sér. 2, iv. t. 7), even with Stal’s alterations (Hem Fabr. p. 21, note), 
are right; the difficulty is increased by the presence of specimens under MS. names in 
Signoret’s collection. 
With the exception of M. balteata, the species are very small, and one or two are 
among the most minute of the Membracide. 
1. Micrutalis balteata. 
Acutalis balteata, Fairm. Aun. Soc. Ent. Fr, sér. 2, iv. p. 496°. 
Hab. GuatEMaua, Cerro Zunil (Champion); Panama, Volcan de Chiriqui (Champion). 
—CotomBia (coll. Signoret 1, in Mus. Vind. Ces.). 
The specimens in our collection do not quite agree with the ordinary form, being 
