180 THE CANADIAN ENTOMOLOGIST 



is considered with reference to a number of somewhat arbitrary 

 stations into which the region is divided for convenience. Some 

 general matters are also touched upon in this connection, such as 

 the theories of origin of the family, paths of migration, and the 

 general distribution of the group throughout the world. "In 

 North America the family is best represented in Mexico, where 

 the characteristic bizarre forms are plentiful. Southern- United 

 States shows fewer species, and these lose their grotesque appear- 

 ance as they spread northward. Northern United States continues 

 to show the thinning out of the forms as the climate becomes 

 colder, and the native species are, on the whole, smaller and of less 

 striking development. Canada marks the northern limit of the 

 family and shows few representatives." 



The greater part of the paper is taken up with the descrip- 

 tions, bibliography and notes on the life-histories of the sixty- 

 one species of the district, all of which are figured, the early stages 

 as well as the adult characters being shown in many cases. There 

 are also keys to the subfamilies, genera and species. 



Following this descriptive list a number of general matters 

 are discussed. These include a detailed account of the external 

 anatomy, which although approached mainly from the taxonomic 

 viewpoint will doubtless prove useful to the morphological student 

 as well as the systematist. 



The concluding portion of the book is occupied by an interest- 

 ing account of the general features of the life-history, habits, host 

 relations, ecology, etc., of the family. Among the more interest- 

 ing features of their habits are those of oviposition, of which 

 there are a number of rather distinct types. This subject is of 

 some interest from the economic standpoint, since the only kind of 

 real injury caused by any of the species is due to the egg-laying 

 habit, as in the well-known case of Ceresa huhalus. Even this 

 injury, however, is exceptional, and the Membracidse are not to 

 be regarded as of any great economic importance. 



This study will be useful, not only to Hemipterists and general 

 entomologists, but also to anyone interested in the faunal character- 

 istics of the Cayuga Lake Basin and neighboring or similar regions. 



Mailed May 10th, 1918. 



