HABITS OF THE CYSTOCCELIA. 343 



absolutely as empty as a blown bladder. The object of this 

 singular structure is at present unknown. 



The rest of the insect differs little from the ordinary structure 

 of the Saltatoria. The thorax rises very high in the middle, and 

 if the insect be viewed sidewise, it will be seen that the thorax 

 is drawn out into a point behind, and projects over the first few 

 segments of the abdomen. Its colour is opaque green, except 

 that along the ridge which crowns its summit is a slender line 

 of light scarlet. 



The genus is distributed rather widely through the world, and 

 is found in most of the hot countries. Of the habits of this 

 particular species, which belongs to Southern Africa, nothing has 

 been recorded ; but Mr. A. W. Scott has taken some very inter- 

 esting notes respecting an allied insect, Cystoccdia Saundersii, 

 which inhabits Ash Island, situated in Hunter's Eiver, New 

 South Wales : — 



" These insects are extremely numerous on Ash Island, prin- 

 cipally inhabiting an orange grove of about 1,200 trees, and we 

 scarcely ever remember seeing one beyond a few rods of the 

 limits of this garden, nor have we ever heard of or discovered a 

 single specimen elsewhere, with the exception of the few brought 

 by Sir Thomas Mitchell from the interior. 



" During the short twilights of this country, the male com- 

 mences and ends his song, which resembles a loud, deep guttural 

 R, continued incessantly and with vibrations. So loud, indeed, 

 is this sound, that when near to several insects it becomes 

 painful to the ear. It is, moreover, very unlike the shriller and 

 harsher notes uttered by the common Cicada. 



"In this brief period after sunset the males and females 

 occasionally fly from tree to tree, their flight being slow and 

 steady, particularly that of the former. The only other time 

 these insects are heard is immediately, in hot and sultry weather, 

 before a thunderstorm, and then only at broken intervals. Tin's 

 habit was particularly noticed on our placing the males on a 

 bunch of flowers in the drawing-room, wmere every evening they 

 regaled us with their short-lived song, and at other periods 

 occasionally predicted the coming storm. 



"The larvae live underground on the roots of plants, and in 

 their habits and transformations closely approximate to those of 

 the common Cicada. 



