220 



INSECT LIFE. 



* 



Fig. 187. 



all the prothorax is prolonged backward like a roof 

 over the body (Fig. 187). A common species bears a 

 pair of hornlike projections, which have giv- 

 en it the name of the buffalo 

 tree-hopper (Fig. 188); and an- 

 other common species (Fig. 



189) excretes honey-dew, and ^ 



. , , , -^ ,r , Fig. 188. 



is attended by ants. If the 



young entomologist wishes to laugh, let him look at 



the faces of tree-hoppers through a lens. A front 



view of several of these insect-Brownies is 



j^M - given in Fig. 190. Their eyes have a keen, 



^^^ droll look, and the line that separates the 



iG. 189. j^^^^ from the prothorax gives them the 



appearance of wearing glasses. In some cases the 



prothorax is elevated above the head, so that it looks 



Fig. 190. — Tree-hoppers or Brownie-bugs. 



like a peaked nightcap ; in others it is shaped like a 

 Tam-o'-shanter ; while others have prominent horns. 

 The tree-hoppers feed uf)on plants, but they sel- 

 dom appear in sufficient numbers to do much damage. 

 They constitute the family Membracid^. (Mem-brac'- 

 i-da3) of the order Hemiptera. 



