52 HOMOPTEEA. 



Suborder HOMOPTEEA. 



The principal distinguishing characters of the Homoptera have 

 ah'eady been described in our introduction to the whole order 

 Rhynchota (vol. i. pp. xxv & xxxvi), and it is unnecessary to 

 allude further to them here. Our knowledge of the diiferent 

 families composing the suborder is much less complete at present 

 than our information respecting the Heteroptera. Of the Cica- 

 didae we have ample collections, and those of contiueutal India 

 and Ceylon are adequately repi'esented, though we may expect 

 many undescribed species to be eventually discovered in the 

 eastern confines of our faunistic area and in the islands of the 

 Indian Ocean. The Fulgoridse are fairly well known as regards 

 the genera and species of the larger and more showy insects, but 

 among the subfamilies which comprise the smaller and more 

 obscure species vei-y much remains to be done. The Membracida3 

 are less known and worked than the Fulgoridae, and a similar 

 remark applies to the Cercopidas ; while the Jassidse are practi- 

 cally unworked and unrecorded, and probably will prove to be the 

 most extensive Family of the Homoptera. 



A-s regards structural characters aud the terms used in referring 

 to them, the Introduction has already dealt with most ; those 

 specially or exclusively applicable to the Homoptera are when 

 necessary supplied with diagrams and explanatory details as 

 introductions to each of the families as we come to them in these 

 pages. 



The classification of the Homoptera is still an open question, 

 and great diversity of opinion exists as to the number of Families 

 to be recognized in its division. Westwood (Modern Class. Ins. 

 ii. p. 418) with excellent judgment and caution divided the 

 Homoptera into three main divisions, viz. : — 



1. TniMERA. Tarsi 3-jointed; antenna3 minute, setigerous ; 

 wings areolate. 



2. DiMEKA. Tarsi 2-jointed ; antennae moderate, filiform, 

 5-10-jointed; wings subareolate. 



3. MoNOMERA. Tarsi 1-jointed ; antennae 6-25-jointed ; wings 

 not areolate. 



Atter an interval of nearly sixty years, Shai'p (Cambr. Nat. 

 Hist. vi. p. 544) practically adopts this division, though he does 



