194 



The Orders of Insects 



rapid vibration of a drum or membrane within the metathorax ; 

 the cavities of these sounding organs are protected by large 

 plates (fig. io8) Virhich overhang the first abdominal sternite. The 

 female Cicad, by means of her saw^-like ovipositor, cuts slits in 

 twigs of trees in order to lay her eggs therein. The young 

 grubs with evenly-segmented feelers and large digging fore-legs 

 (fig. 74) burrow underground and feed on roots for several years. 

 In some species, before the final moult, they make cylindrical 

 earthen dwellings (fig. 75) within which they passively await 

 the change into the winged form. The family is very abundant 

 in the tropics of both hemispheres (123), but only about thirty 



Fig. ioS. — a. Body of male Cicad from beneath, showing cover-plates 

 of musical organs ; 6. from above, showing drums, natural size ; c. 

 section showing muscles which vibrate drum (magnified) ; d. a 

 drum at rest ; e. thrown into vibration, more highly magnified. 

 From Marlatt, Bull. 14 (n.s.) Div. Ent. U.S. Dept. Agr. 



species reach the shores of the Mediterranean, and one the British 

 Isles (120, 121). 



Fulgoridae. — The Fulgorida are characterised by three-segmented 

 feelers inserted beneath the eyes ; two ocelli are recognisable be- 

 tween the eyes, the third is usually vestigial or wanting. The 

 head is large, in some genera produced forwards into a great 

 bladder-like lobe as long as the body — as in the South American 

 and Oriental " Lantern-flies." The pronotum is not produced 

 into a process behind. The hind-legs are thick and long and 

 serve for leaping. The forewings are of firmer texture than the 



