THE STRTDULANTIA. 409 



common occurrence. The female measures about an 

 inch and a quarter in length with the wings closed, 

 and the male rather less. Both sexes are of a black 

 colour, with the wings semitransparent ; an opake 

 plate at the base of each wing and the hinder margins 

 of the segments of the abdomen are bright red. 



The tribe to which this insect belongs is distin- 

 guished from all the other Homoptera by the presence 

 of three ocelli in a triangle on the top of the head, 

 and the males are further characterized by the pos- 

 session of a vocal apparatus on each side of the 

 abdomen. This consists of a sort of drum, which is 

 pulled inwards by the action of a muscle, and on 

 being let loose again, its vibration produces a very 

 loud chirping noise. The cavities in which these 

 drums are contained are covered by more or less con- 

 vex plates or opercula, which are sometimes nearly as 

 long as the whole abdomen. In the South of Europe, 

 where several species of these insects abound, the 

 noise which they produce when the sun is at its 

 hottest, is described by travellers as almost deafening ; 

 nevertheless the ancients, and particularly the Greeks, 

 regarded their song with no small favour, probably 

 more from the associations connected with it than 

 from its intrinsic merit. Our British species has very 

 small vocal organs, and has never been heard to sing 

 in this country, but it is probable that in the South 

 of France, where he is very abundant, he may assist 

 his relatives in swelling the general chorus. From 

 this noisy disposition of the males, this tribe has re- 

 ceived the denomination of the Stridulantia. 



The females are provided with a saw-like valvular 

 ovipositor, with which they cut slits in the twigs of 

 trees, and there deposit their eggs. The twigs appear 



