CICADID.'E. 57 



badms), whilst a certain number are also killed by the Ashy 

 Drongo (Dicninis longicaudatus) and the Jungle-Crow (Corvns 

 mncrorhynchus). Their worst enemy, however, accordiug to my 

 informant, appears to be a lizard {Calotes versicolor), which kills 

 and devours a large number. 



Probably about one thousand species have been described from 

 various parts of the world, but a complete synomymic catalogue 

 on which I have been long engaged is not yet com]:)]eted. In 

 Britain we possess one species, and tiiat a rare insect, but in the 

 Tropics, and especially the Eastern Tropics, they are abundant. 

 Their life-histories are" little known, and should prove to be of the 

 most interesting character, for of one Nearctic species, Tihicina 

 septendecim, it seems to be conclusively proved that in its imma- 

 ture condition it lives beneath the surface of the ground for a 

 period of some seventeen years, during which it feeds on roots, &c., 

 aud that it has but a short life as a perfect winged insect. 



Some considerable difference in generic arrangement will be 

 found in the enumeration of the Cicadidfe in this volume and in 

 my ' Monograph of the Oriental Cicadida;.' This has been brought 

 about, or rather necessitated, by a thorough revision of all the 

 known genera, aud an attempt to fix their true characters from 

 an examination of the structure of their original types. I have 

 constructed synopses of all tlie genera I have seen (and I have 

 been able to examine most) from all parts of the world, and 

 these have have been published in the 'Annals and Magazine of 

 jN'at. Hist.' during the last two years. 



• The Cicadida} in my view may be divided into three distinct 

 subfamilies : — 



A. Tympanal coverings present. 



a. Tympanal coverings entirely concealing tym- 

 panal orifices Cicadina'. 



aa. Tympanal coverings imperfect, more or less 



exposing orifices Gceanince. , 



B. Tympanal coverings absent Tihicinince. 



These characters are fully shown in the following illustration : — 



Fig. 32. 



rJf^ 



/. 2. 3. 



1. Bunduhia intemerata, Walk. With lympanal coverings 



complete Cicadincp. 



2. Terjmosia ffccnesa, Dial. With tympanal coverings rudi- 



mentary Gaanince. 



3. Qiiintilia suhvittata, Walk. With tympaiml coverings 



entirely absent Tibicinince. 



