PREFACE. ix 



twenty-five out of our thirty-four genera are wholly restricted to the fauna ; whilst we may 

 almost say the same of three other genera, Cosmopsaltria, Gijmnotympana, and Lemheja. In 

 many cases, therefore, this is a generic as well as a faunistic monograph, but it is not likely to 

 possess that exhaustive character with many of the above genera, when the Cicadidti; of the 

 Pacific Islands are better known. Our western limit being on the border of the Pala^arctic 

 region proves a moderately sharp faunistic divisor ; but in the east we artificially closed the 

 Malayan Archipelago at New Guinea, and this is certainly not a line of faunistic cleavage. In 

 the Cicadida% Japan docs not exhibit a Palajarctic facies, but has true Oriental affinities ; of 

 China our knowledge is so limited and so partial that nothing can with confidence be said 

 on the subject. 



In preparing a monograph of a group of exotic insects, the writer becomes aware as the 

 more thoroughly he strives to do his work, of the initial character of such undertakings.* 

 Collectors, no doubt, will largely add to the number of species to be included in this fauna, 

 and also show a wider distribution of the species already enumerated. Fresh observations on 

 the habits of these insects must necessarily accumulate with time. The permanence of the 

 classification here adopted and pm'sued is neither claimed nor expected. In fact, it would be 

 taking a very pessimist view of the future progress of Entomology, if our present artificial 

 and arbitrary classificatory systems were anticipated to survive the exigencies of museum 

 arrangement, and our present limited knowledge. Embryological conditions, considered on 

 evolutionary principles, must be the guide in framing our future natural systems, showing the 

 sequence of Families, Genera, and Species; the embryology of the Cicadida) is at present 

 practically unknown. The monographist of to-day can only prepare the material to be dealt 

 with in a future biological era by students trained on wider principles, and living in a 

 philosophical conception of life less narrow than that now so generally popular. It is only 

 about thirty years since the publication of the ' Origin of Species ; ' judging fi-om what has 

 already taken place, what may not be expected at the end of another similar period ? I thus 

 feel that, though I found our knowledge of the Cic adidfe in a somewhat chaotic condition, 

 I only leave it in artifwial order, and may, metaphorically, exclaim, "Order reigns in ^Yarsaw." 

 I will only add — if I may do so without presumption — to those who use this monograph, that 

 he who criticises does well ; he who corrects does better ; and he who adds to our knowledge 

 does better still. 



I must again bear witness to the faithful work of my artist, Mr. Horace Ivnight, who 

 has illustrated this publication, as he did my ' Rhopalocera Malayana.' I think the 

 entomological artist does not always receive his proper value. How often he makes possible 

 a bad description ! 



* It was ono of the sayings of the lato well-known British zoologist, Fredk. Bond, " that a natarahst ousht to havo 

 three lives— seventy years to collect, seventy to study his collection, and seventy to impart his knowledge to others." — 

 ' Entomologist,' vol. xxii. p. 2GG. 



PuRLEY, Surrey, 



August, 1893. 



