OBMIPTERA. ICQ 



Cicada is singing, one can approach it, whistling the while in a 

 quavering manner, and imitating as nearly as possible, its cry, but in 

 such a manner as to predominate over it The insect then descends 

 a small space down the tree, as if to approach the whistler ; then it 

 stops. But if one presents a stick to it, continuing to whistle, the 

 Cicada settles on it and begins again to descend backwards. From 

 time to time it stops, as if to listen. At last, attracted, and, as it 

 were, fascinated by the harmony of the whistle, it comes to the 

 observer himself. 



M. Boyer managed thus to make a Cicada, which continued to 

 sing as long as he whistled in harmony with it, settle on his nose. 

 Charmed by this concert, the insect seemed to have lost its natural 

 timidity. 



The Cicada orni is of a greenish yellow, spotted wfth black. 

 The abdomen is encircled by the same colours. The elytra and the 

 wings are hyaline, or glassy, and their veins alternately yellow and 

 brown. The legs are yellow throughout. The song of this species 

 is hoarse, and cannot be heard at any great distance. 



M. Solier, in the work we quoted just now, says that the song of 

 this Cicada is of a deeper intonation, but that it is quick and is sooner 

 over. It does not terminate in the manner which characterises that 

 of the other species. 



Next the genus Cicada comes Fulgora, whose type is the Fulgora 

 Janternaria, or Lantern Fly (Fig. 83). 



Belonging to South America, these insects are above all remark- 

 able and easy to recognise, by their very large elongated head, which 

 nearly equals three-quarters of the rest of the body. This prolonga- 

 tion is horizontal, vesiculous, enlarged to about the same breadth as 

 the head, and presents above a very great gibbosity. The antennae 

 are short, with a globular second articulation, and a small terminal 

 hair. The species represented in Fig. 83 is yellow varied with black. 

 The elytra are of a greenish yellow, sprinkled with black ; the wings, 

 of the same colour, have at the extremity a large spot resembling an 

 eye, which is surrounded by a brown circle very broad in front. It 

 inhabits Guyana. This remarkable insect enjoys a great renown 

 with the vulgar, by a peculiarity which might be called its speciality 

 the property of shining by night or in the dark. Hence its name 

 of Fulgora lanteniaria. 



The knowledge of the Fulgora lanteniaria has been spread and 

 popularised in Europe by a celebrated book, which has for its title, 

 "Metamorphoses des Insectes de Surinam." This book, which 

 contains the result of patient study of the natural history of Dutch 



