1«85.] 33 



Gren. issus, Fab. 

 This geuus leads to the Memhracina aud Oicadellina, by uo more 

 abrupt transition than is necessitated by the paucity of our indigenous 

 forms, each one of which frequently typifies an extensive group, rendering 

 any attempt at a rational linear arrangement peculiarly embarrassing. 

 It stands here at the end of the British Fulgorina, or that section of 

 Somoptera characterised by the insertion of the antennae beneath, 

 instead of between, the eyes. The true position, however, of the whole 

 of the Fulgoriiia has yet to be determined ; for it would seem, as well 

 from their facial characters as the peculiar articulation of the hind 

 femora and tibiae (which show a constant tendency to bend, or geni- 

 culate forwards), that they approximate more to the Sternorhyncha, 

 Psylla, Coccus, &c., than to the true Cicndellina, and therefore should 

 stand at the end of the Auchenorhyncha. The analogy which exists 

 between the insects of the genus Cicada (properly so called) and Psylla, 

 Trioza, &c., is certainly far more striking than that between the two 

 latter and Eupteryx, with which they are at present conterminous. The 

 genus Issus, even as at present restricted by Spinola, contains many 

 species ; but one only has been found to inhabit Great Britain. 



1. — Issus coleoptratus, Eab. 



Is too well known to need description here. A fine variety is 

 figured in Curtis' British Entomology, to which we refer. The usual 

 colour is testaceous, but some varieties are much darker than others, 

 and the black mark in the centre of each hemelytron is liable to be 

 more or less diffused over the entire surface. 



Yar. a. Cercopis coleoptrata, Grerm., Mag., 3, p. 44. Panz., Fn., 



2, tab. 11. 

 Var. b. Fulgora gibbosa, Oliv., Enc, t. 6, p. 576. 

 Var. c. Issus coleoptratus, Curt., B. E., 449. 

 Var. d. Issus Lauri, Ahr., Fn. Ins. Eur., Hft. 2, tab. 19. 



It is common on grassy banks, and on shrubs and trees in woods, 

 throughout the season. The young larvae, less than a line in length, 

 were especially numerous, at the close of last autumn, in Epping Forest ; 

 and the same brood were to be found, hardly increased in size, two 

 months ago. Many of the Homoptera, as Delphax, Ledra aurita, and 

 even Eupteryx, appear to pass the winter in this state. 



ii. AntennjB inter oculos et frontem insertse. Ocelli vel in 

 fronte vel vertice, siti. 



* Pronotum postice productum, scutellum apice sue plus 



minus obtegens. 



