BIOLOGIC NOTES. • 



Stkiuulation. 



In my first memoir (p. 285) it was stated that though Pcr- 

 knisiclla saccharicida had often been heard to stridulate distinct- 

 1), by the Entomolcfgists of this Station, researches on the phe- 

 nomenon had not yet been made 



On his return from Fiji, Mr. Muir lianded me the following" 

 notes, upon which it is scarcely necessary to enlarge: 



"One hot, still morning, when collecting in Fiji, my attention 

 was attracted to a small palm, from which a distinct noise ci 

 insects stridulating proceeded. 1 found the underside of the 

 leaves covered with hundreds of a small red leaf hopper {Miiiria 

 sfridula PI. 20 figs. 10-13). Their tegmina and wings were 

 erected above the back and occasionally gave caie or two rapid 

 movements; sometimes the abdomen was jerked up and down. 

 1 recognized it as similar to one I had taken in Natal some years 

 ago, in which the wings were exceedingly small and used entirely 

 as stridulating organs. Upon examination I found the wings in 

 the present species were likewise used for that purpose. The 

 tegmina are about 6 mill, long, whilst the wings are only half a 

 millimetre, the anal lobe being larger than the rest of the wing, 

 thickened and corrugated on the hind margin of the upper side. 



"The costal margin is turned dver and catches into a fold 

 along the margin of the tegmina ; by this means it moves with 

 the tegmina. The corrugated surface is opposed to the anterior 

 angles of the abdomen where there are several white bristles sit- 

 uated. 



"In another, {Frontlsta iiiocsta PI. 20 figs. 8-9) from Java, 

 the tegmina are about sV^ iTii^l- lo"g and the wings 3 mill., the 

 anal area larger in proportion to the rest of the wing and corru- 

 gated on the upper side. 



"In another, {Pyrrhonciira saccharicida PI. 20 figs. 6-7), from 

 hiji, the tegmina are about 4 mill, long and the wings 3 mill, 

 the broad edge of the anal area being corrugated. The corru- 

 oations thin out srraduallv on each side, and one can see that 



