CLASSIFICATION OF TETTIGID^. XXXI 



on this family is that of Mr. James Edwards, who has 

 more completely made this subject his study perhaps 

 than any other English writer. His ' Synopsis of 

 British JHomoptera-Cicadiuge ' is the result of many 

 years' observation and study. 



A common objection to the descriptions of species is 

 the inordinate length, not to say the verbosity, of their 

 diagnoses ; but in Mr. Edwards' tables we have a 

 midtum in parvo. Through them, after the genus has 

 been clearly made out, a species may often be " run to 

 earth " by a judicious elimination of characters, and by 

 a proper bracketting off. 



Here, again, considerable assistance has been 

 afforded the author by his possession of numerous 

 duplicate insects, all of which have been recently 

 labelled and many captured by Mr. Edwards himself. 

 The great advantage of comparison of insects with 

 his types must be acknowledged by all. 



It is possible that amongst the many species I have 

 to describe, some mistakes may occur in the synonymy 

 of foreign forms. For such errors the indulgence of 

 foreign entomologists is asked. 



The above enumeration of authors by no means 

 exhausts the bibliography of the British Tettigidae. 

 Amongst other observers I would mention the late Dr. 

 Franz Low, of Vienna, who wrote several short me- 

 moirs on species. The titles of his works, and those of 

 others, will be added to the end of this Monograph. 



CLASSIFICATION. 



Zoological Classification has been mainly based on 

 the significance of those organs which appear to be 

 of the highest importance towards promoting the 

 animal economy, and for effecting the reproductive 

 functions. Such classificatory schemes may be deno- 

 minated Systems. 



Of those urged by authors several are noteworthy, 

 but the chief of these relating to insects may be com- 

 prised under one of the following heads : — • 



