HEMIPTERA. 181 



the top of the hind part of the crest. This species may be called 

 Membracis Ampelopsidis * , from the plant on which it is found in 

 the perfect state. The young appear to live in the earth till they 

 are fully grown and have acquired the rudiments of wing-covers 

 and wings, or have become pupae, after which they are seen as- 

 cending the stems of the creeper, on which they change their 

 skins for the last time. This occurs from the middle to the end 

 of June. 



There is a little tree-hopper, which is found during the months 

 of July and August on the wax-work, or Celastrus scandens, ac- 

 companied usually by its young. When fully grown it is nearly 

 three tenths of an inch in length, including the horn of the thorax ; 

 is of a dusky brown color, with two yellowish spots on the ridge 

 of the back ; and the first four shanks are exceedingly broad and 

 flat. It is the two-spotted tree-hopper, or Membracis binotata of 

 Say. When seen sidewise it presents a profile much like that of 

 a bird, the head and neck of which are represented by the curved 

 projecting horn of the thorax ; and a group of these little tree- 

 hoppers, of various sizes, clustered together on a stem of the 

 wax-work, may be likened to a flock of old and young partridges. 

 They appear to pass through all their transformations on the plant, 

 are fond of society, and sit close together, with their heads all 

 in the same direction. 



Tree-hoppers are often surrounded by ants, for the sake of 

 their castings, and for the sap which oozes from the punctures 

 made by the former, of which the ants are very fond. Those 

 kinds, that live on the stems of plants from the time when they 

 are hatched till they are fully grown, are very closely attended by 

 ants ; and, as from their constant sucking the young become often 

 wet, their careful attendants, the ants, find regular employment 

 in wiping them clean and dry with their antennae and tongues. 



The remaining Homopterous insects have a thorax of moderate 

 size, not tapering to a point behind, and not covering the whole 

 body as in the preceding species. Their heads are visible from 

 above, and the face slopes downwards towards the breast. 



Here may be arranged the singular insects called frog-hoppers, 



* It is the Membracis Cissi of my Catalogue. 



