8 MEANING OF SHAPES AND COLOURS OF THE MEMBRACIDjE. 



and in others straight. The shape and appearance probably promote conceahnent in 

 trees and shrubs. TropnJoci/tn and Ldosci/ta (Phite VII.) are very simihvr to the 

 above-named genera, but the pronotum is not foliaceous and is rounded or very 

 obtusely pointed anteriorly. They are probably adapted to concealment among 

 plants, resembling buds or the irregularities of rough bark. 



The irregular rounded species of the genus Ti/Iojjelfn (Plate VII.) would also be 

 well concealed on rough bark, while on the ground they would resemble seeds, the 

 excrement of larvte, or small lumps of earth. Some of the elongated and generally 

 curved forms of P//////r/ and Scalinop/iorus (Plate VIII.) suggest small bits of stick, of 

 which the projecting end appears to be broken off, while the species in which the 

 pronotal horn is pointed anterioi-ly perhaps represent thorns. The greatly varied 

 shapes presented by the genus H^/psojjrora (Plates VIII. and IX.) suggest protective 

 resemblance to vegetable growths of various kinds — buds, roughened bark, irregular 

 or winged seeds. 



The next genus, Bolbonofn (Plates IX. and X.), contains small, dark, roundish 

 insects closely resembling seeds, also small lumps of earth, &c. They would be well 

 concealed upon rough bark. The pronotum, which is the only part seen when the 

 insect is looked at from above, is rounded and broad and its surface deeply sculptured. 

 In the position of rest the legs are folded close to the body, and thus help in the 

 disguise. Canon Fowler remark.^ in the Biologia: "No insect could look more 

 unlike the foliaceous species of Memhracis, and yet, so gradual and so complete is the 

 transition through intermediate species, that the older authors included them under 

 the same genus." Bulboiiofodes (Plate X., Fig. 9) includes an allied insect, which is 

 also seed-like in appearance. 



Pteri/(/ia, with its remarkable winged processes and strongly roughened surfaces 

 (Plates XI.-XIII.), appears to be undoubtedly cryptic, resembling some of the forms of 

 the vegetable environment. What these exact forms are must be determined by 

 naturalists upon the spot, but lichen, winged seeds, and the irregularities of extremely 

 rough bark may be suggested. Almost the same words may be used of the astonishing 

 forms presented by the remarkable genne S/j//o//ffop//or//s (Plates XIII. -XV.), some of 

 which seem clearly to suggest lichen, and others the excrement of birds or other 

 animals, as is indicated by Mr. Buckton (see description of Fig. 4 on Plate XIV). A 

 possible resemblance to galls should also be taken into account. The remarkable 

 inflated part of the pronotum of Sphonf/ophorus iiiflatiis, figured by Canon Fowler on 

 Plate III., Fig. 5, of his monograph in the Biologia, bears a peculiar sculpture which 

 may be gall-like. Tlie species are, as Canon Fowler writes in the Biologia, " among 

 the most extraordinary of the Membracidce, and, in fact, tliere are few insects which 

 assume more curious forms." 



