HEMIPTERA. 195 



forwards on each side to the top of the hind part of the crest. 

 This species may be called Membracis Ampelopsidis* from the 

 plant on which it is found in the perfect state. The young 

 appear to live in the earth till they are fully grown and have 

 acquired the rudiments of wing-covers and wings, or have 

 become pupae, after which they are seen ascending the stems 

 of the creeper, on which they change their skins for the last 

 time. This occurs from the middle to the end of June. 



There is a little tree-hopper, which is found during the 

 months of July and August on the wax-work, or Celastrus 

 scandens, accompanied usually by its young. When fully 

 grown it is nearly three tenths of an inch in length, including 

 the horn of the thorax ; is of a dusky brown color, with two 

 yellowish spots on the ridge of the back; and the first four 

 shanks are exceedingly broad and flat. It is the two-spotted 

 tree-hopper, or Membracis binotata of Say. When seen side- 

 wise it presents a profile much like that of a bird, the head and 

 neck of which are represented by the curved projecting horn of 

 the thorax ; and a group of these little tree-hoppers, of various 

 sizes, clustered together on a stem of the wax-work, may be 

 likened to a flock of old and young partridges. They appear 

 to pass through all their transformations on the plant, are fond 

 of society, and sit close together, with their heads all in the 

 same direction. 



Tree-hoppers are often surrounded by ants, for the sake of 

 their castings, and for the sap which oozes from the punctures 

 made by the former, of which the ants are very fond. Those 

 kinds, that live on the stems of plants from the time when 

 they are hatched till they are fully grown, are very closely 

 attended by ants; and, as from their constant sucking the 

 young become often wet, their careful attendants, the ants, 

 find regular employment in wiping them clean and dry with 

 their antennae and tongues. 



The remaining Homopterous insects have a thorax of mod- 

 erate size, not tapering to a point behind, and not covering 

 the whole body as in the preceding species. Their heads are 



• It is the Membracis Cissi of my Catalogue. 



