276 SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 



the membranous expansion of the hinder tibiae lute- 

 ous, variegated with testaceous, and marked with 

 a group of small black spots near the middle of the 

 exterior portion. 



HOMOPTERA. 



THIS, the second great division of the Hemipterous 

 order, will be readily distinguished by having the 

 rostrum apparently originating from the lower part 

 of the head, near the breast ; the hemelytra of a 

 uniform consistence, approaching to membranous, 

 throughout their whole extent ; never overlapping 

 each other when closed, and inclined on each side, 

 forming a kind of roof over the body ; the latter 

 thick and convex ; mesothorax and metathorax more 

 developed than the prothorax; antennae short and 

 inconspicuous, terminating in a bristle; scutellura 

 minute ; ovipositor always distinct. 



The above characters sufficiently indicate that this 

 section is widely dissimilar from the former. The 

 differences are not confined to external and structural 

 attributes, but also extend to modes of life, the Ho- 

 moptera living exclusively on vegetable juices, while 

 the Heteroptera are more partial to the blood of ani- 

 mals. It contains several well defined families, 

 which we shall first attend to that of the Cicadida 

 or frog-hoppers. 



FAM. 



IN these the antennae are very short and setaceoi 

 composed of from three to seven joints, scarcely pro- 

 jecting beyond the head, (PL XVIII. fig. 2, c, c,) the 



UC 



