ORIENTAL CICADIDJE. 69 



Stal, into two distinct sections or subgenera, clistinguisheil principally by the sbape and 

 length of the abdomen. 



The geographical distribution of Pomponia is strictly confined to the limits of our 

 fauna. 



A. Abdomen long ; tijinjjanal coveringg of ordinary development only. 

 a. Tegmina considerably spotted. 



1. Pomponia imperatoria. (Tab. IX., fig. 15, a, h.) 



Cicada imperatoria, Wcstwood, Arcau. Ent. vol. i. p. 13, t. 51 (1842). 



Dunduhia imperatoria, "Walk. List Horn. i. j). '17, n. 1 (1850). 



Pomponia imperatoria, Stal, Berl. Ent. Zeit. x. p. 171 (18GG) ; Atkins. J. A. S. Beng. vol. liii. p. 229, n. C7 (1885). 



Cicada adusta, Walk. List Horn. i. p. 102, n. 1 (1850). 



Body above brownisb-ochraceous, in some specimens castaneous. Head with a central longitudinal 

 spot to front, tbe area of tbe ocelli, a transverse spot behind ej'es, and a spot at anterior angles of vertex, 

 black. Pronotiim with two central longitudinal linear fasciae not extending beyond centre — a central spot 

 at the ijosterior margin — and tbe furrows black ; posterior margin gi-eenish, with two black spots on each 

 side. Mesonotum with two obconical central spots, from tbe junction of which a longitudinal fascia extends 

 to posterior margin, four spots in transverse series at base, a spot on each lateral discal area, and 

 sometimes some small spots at anterior margin black. Abdomen with the posterior margins of the 

 abdominal segments narrowly black. Body beneath and legs brownisb-ocbraceous ; transverse striations 

 and apex of face, anterior tibiae, bases and apical thirds of intermediate tibia;, anterior and intennediate 

 tarsi and apex of rostrum, black. 



Tegmina and wings pale hyaline, the venation ochraceous. Tegmina with the costal membrane and 

 basal cell brownish or ochraceous, the claval area ochraceous or sanguineous ; the transverse veins at tbe 

 bases of the second, third, fifth, and seventh apical areas infuscated and a series of fuscous marginal spots 

 at the apices of the longitudinal veins to apical areas. Wings with the base of claval area ochraceous or 

 sanguineous ; outer margin of claval area ochraceous. 



Long. excl. tegm. ^ , 46 to 68 millim. ; 5 , 41 to GO millim. Exp. tegm. 3 , 137 to 180 miUim. ; 

 ? , 145 to 216 millim. 



Hab. — Malay Peninsula : Province Wellesley (coll. Dist.) ; Perak (Townsend & Doherty — coll. Dist.). 

 Java (Argent — Brit. Mua.). Boeneo : Pontianak (Bruss. Mus.) ; Sarawak (Genoa Mus.) ; Sandakan (Pryer 

 —coll. Dist.) ; Kina Balu Mt. (Wliitehead— coll. Dist.). 



This is a most variable species, both as regards size and markings. The largest specimen 

 I have yet seen is a female in my o\vn collection from Perak, whose tegmina reach an 

 expansion of 216 millim. In some of the smaller specimens the body is darker, and the 

 markings to same and the spotting of the tegmina very indistinct. There almost seem to be 

 two races of this species, one very much smaller and somewhat less prominently marked 

 than the other. 



As I have elsewhere recorded, I captured this fine species myself, not mifrequently, when 

 sojourning in the Malay Peninsula. It often frequented the dining-room, and on holding it 

 between the fingers its striduhition caused a thrill through the nerves of the arm.* 



* It is probably this species described by Mr. Helms in Borneo : — " A srreen creatnre, with transparent winps a couple 

 of inches lonf;, sent forth picrciuR sounds which may bo lieard a mile away. It begins with a strong trumpet-note, which has 

 been likened to the sharpening of a steel knife on a grindstone, but infinitely more penetrating. This note is very prolonged, 

 and is followed rapidly by others, gradually getting fainter, at last dying away, when it begins anew with the first note, and so 

 continues, filling the stillness of the night with its noisy trumpeting." — L. V. Helms, ' I'ioucering in the Far East,' p. 1-11-2. 



