52 Tmiimclious. — Zoology. 



the following is a table of the varieties that have at present 

 come under my notice. 



a. var. sitb-aljnna. — Dark-green, with black markings con- 

 sisting of two broad stripes on the inner marginsof the eyes ; two 

 stripes in the depressions on the prothorax ; two small central, 

 and t'.vo elongate lateral, cone-shaped markings on the meso- 

 thorax ; a broad band on each side of the central silvery stripe 

 on the abdomen, and two small stripes on each side of tlie 

 posterior segment in the female. Wings tinged with green, 

 veins green, costa red, legs green, with black tips to all the 

 joints. This variety frequents forest-clad hills, and is taken 

 abundantly as far up as 4,000ft., when it is replaced by C. cas- 

 siojye, presently to be noticed. It is undoubtedly one of the 

 most abundant varieties of C. muta. 



(3. var. rufesccns. — Eeddish-ochreous, with black markings 

 as in var. a, except that the sides of the abdomen are frequently 

 much suffused with black. Wings clear, with reddish veins. 

 Many of the females of this variety are very pale in colour, 

 becoming, in fact, quite ochreous. Common in the Maitai 

 Valley, Nelson. 



y. var. fiavesccns. — Of this form I have but one specimen, 

 which w^as taken on the lower slopes (3,500ft.) of Mount 

 Tapuaewaeonuku, and is quite a bright-yellow colour. It is a 

 female, and must be regarded more as an extreme form of 

 rufescens than as a distinct variety. 



8. var. cincrcscens. — In this form the black markings are 

 much suffused on a dull brownish-yellow ground. The central 

 stripe is, however, present throughout the whole of the insect, 

 and is consequently very conspicuous ; veins dull-brown. This 

 variety is very common in the Wairarapa and Wellington dis- 

 tricts. 



c. var. minor. — ^Distinguished by its small size, shrill song, 

 red basal portions to the wings, black suffusion of mesothorax, 

 and silvei'y pubescence. Common among the coarse native 

 grasses growing on sandy ground just above high-w^ater mark, 

 Wellington, and in similar situations on the banks of the 

 Manawatu River, near Palmerston North. Of this variety I 

 have at present only taken male specimens. 



Cicada riinta xajiieH in length oi bodj^ from 7 to 11 lines; 

 expanse of wings, 16 to 25 lines. 



Cicada tristis, n.s. 



This species is at once recognised by its elongate wings and 

 parallel-sided body, the head being the broadest j)art of the 

 insect. In colour it is bronzy-green, covered with fine silvery 

 hair, and occasionally a central silvery stripe on the abdomen. 

 The markings are dull brick-red, margined with black, and 

 consist of an irregular blotch covering the whole of the top of 



