RAPID TRANSFORMATIONS. 



before we can behold him altogether a thing complete. He 

 lacks not wings, only his wings want expansion; but, after 

 about ten minutes, occupied in their unfolding from out the 

 little shoulder-knots which yet encase them, will appear, in 

 readiness for flight, two large transparent pinions, defended 

 outwardly by a pair of less delicate texture. AVlien the latter 

 have put on their colours, most often variegated brown and 

 white, behold a final and ample finish to the exterior of our 

 frog-hopper, who, as soon as released from crystal durance, 

 will afford, in an agile spring, half-flight, half-leap, an ocular 

 demonstration of the fitness of his name.* 



The first change of this little leaper (that, namely, from 

 larva to pupa) was effected under cover of its frothy veil ; but 

 this transition was only a moult, and not involving, as when a 

 caterpillar becomes a chrysalis, a change of outward form 

 ihepirpa of the frog-hopper, retaining the legs, retains also the 

 activity of the larva ; nor in the third and final development 

 is there, as we have just seen, much alteration of external 

 shape, except the expansion of wings, before concealed. Such 

 is the nature of insect transformation (so called) throughout 

 the order Hemiptera, to which both tree- and frog-hopper 

 belong ; and such it is, also, in the order Orthoptera, of which 

 the grasshopper, the cricket, and the locust are all distin- 

 guished, but sometimes confounded, members. 



One mark of distinction in the family of Gryttida, or true 



* See Vignette to c Insect Minstrelsy,' vol. ii. 



