51 Tiansactio)is. — Zoology. 



proportiou to the bouy, which is more stoutly built than in 

 auy of the species we have previously considered. Length of 

 the body, 6 to 6i lines ; expanse of wings, 12 to 14 hues. This 

 Cicada first appears about November, but is somewhat rare. 

 It may be at once known by its extremely shi'ill song, which 

 is not so rapid in its rhythms as that of Cicada aiivilina. 



Cicada cassiope, n.s. 



This is the alpine Cicada of Nesv Zealand, and has occurred 

 on the mountains in the Nelson and Marlborough Pro^dnces 

 at elevations nangiug from 3,000ft. to 5,000ft. In colour the 

 male is nearly black, with the thoracic markings faintly in- 

 dicated. The veins of the wings are also black. The female 

 differs in being densely covered with dull-whitish haii'. The 

 wing-ribs are often pale-brown, but occasionally black, as 

 in the male. Length of body. 9 to 10 lines ; expanse of wings,, 

 19 to 22 lines. This species delights to bask in the hot sun 

 shine amongst the rocks and shingle on the mountain-tops. 

 Its note is very weak and shrill, resembhug in its slow 

 monotonous character that of C. iristis. It is fairly abundant 

 where found, but, hke all the other Cicadcp, it is not by any 

 means an easy victim to the net. 



These two species (Cicada iolanthe and C. cassiope) are 

 evidently veiy closely allied, btit I think they are sufficiently 

 distinct to be regarded as species in the ordinary sense of the 

 word. 



Respecting the life-liistories of these beautiful insects, I 

 can at jDi'esent supply very little information. 



The larvae are occasionally found iu the earth dtuiug the 

 spring and winter months. They are generally supposed to 

 feed on the roots of plants, but, judging from the fore-legs, 

 which appear to be raptorial as well as fossorial in their 

 structtire, it would seem quite possible that they are carni- 

 vorous, feeding, perhaps, on the juices of other insects, which 

 they might readily imbibe through their long cyhudrical pro- 

 boscis. 



The pupae (fig. 9; differ chiefly iu having rtidimentary 

 wings (PP), the legs, &c., being of cotuse more perfectly de- 

 veloped than in the larvae. When mattue, this pupa works^ 

 its way to the surface of the gi'ound, ascending the stem of a 

 tree, and firmly clinging on by its tarsal claws. The skin on 

 the back of the thorax now splits open, allowing the enclosed 

 Cicada to escape. Here the insect rests for a time, until the 

 wings are sufficiently hardened, when it flies away. Number.s 

 cf these empty pupa-shells, or exuviae, are constantly to be 

 seen attached to the stems of trees in the forest, where thev 

 alwavs remain until dislodged bv some accident. 



