Hudson. — On the Neio Zealand Cicadoo. 53 



the head ; two broad bands on each side of the pro thorax, leav- 

 ing the margins and a central stripe green ; and a broad red 

 stripe on the posterior margin of each of the segments of the 

 abdomen. Wings tinged with brown, veins brown, costa 

 reddish, a blackish suffusion in the anal angle. Lengtli of 

 body, 8 to 9 lines ; expanse of wings, 22 to 24 lines. This 

 curious and interesting species occurs on the forest-clad hills 

 around Wellington during February, March, and April. It 

 may be known by its sad and exceedingly feeble song, which 

 may be often heard on a cold autumn afternoon long after all 

 other signs of insect-life have vanished. 



Cicada aprilina, n.s. 



This is certainly the most beautiful of the New Zealand 

 Cicada. Its colour is a uniform bright-green, of a most 

 striking intensity when alive. It has no markings on the pro- 

 thorax ; but there is a very obscure blackish line round the 

 ocelli, and two fine longitudinal black lines near the centre 

 of the mesothorax. The abdomen has a central silvery stripe, 

 occasionally margined with black, but otherwise the insect is 

 entirely destitute of any markings. Legs and wing- veins bright- 

 green, except tarsi and inner marginal vein of forewings, 

 which are crimson. Length of body, 8^ lines ; expanse of 

 wings, 22 to 21 lines. 



This species first appears about the middle of February ; 

 but is most abundant in April. Its song is very quick and 

 shrill, and is instantly hushed on the approach of an enemy. 

 This Cicada is, in fact, extremely wary, flying off for a great 

 distance when disturbed. Its green colouring is also highly 

 protective, and renders the insect excessively hard to see 

 amongst foliage. These peculiarities probably result from the 

 circumstance that the insect appears late in the year, when 

 few other species are about, and thus it has been much 

 sought after by insectivorous birds, protective coloration and 

 exti'eme caution being naturally the result of the " survival 

 of the fittest." I have not noticed this species anywhere 

 but in the Botanical Gardens : but there it is tolerably com- 

 mon, although very hard to obtain — in fact, it is only to be 

 captured by approaching very quietly and slowly, and then 

 suddenly striking with the net as soon as the insect is de- 

 tected. 



Cicada iolanthe, n.s. 



This is the smallest species of Cicada with which I am 

 at present acquainted. In colour it is dark greenish-black, 

 with the edges of the segments reddish-brown, but the female 

 is often much suffused with brown. There are no distinct 

 markings in either sex. The wings are very broad and short iu 



