420 



Crotfurg at Natural 



which is not visible from above. In others 

 the face slopes downwards towards the breast, 

 the thorax is of moderate size, and does not 

 extend much, if at all, beyond the base of 

 the wing-covers, and does not conceal the 

 head when viewed from above. 



The habits of some of the " Tree-hoppers " 

 are presumed to be much the same as those 

 of the musical harvest-flies [See CICADID,*:], 

 for they are found on the limbs of trees, 

 where they deposit their eggs, only during 

 the adult state, and probably pass the early 

 period of their existence in the ground. 

 Others, however, are known to live and 

 undergo all their changes on the stems of 

 plants. Among the former is the American 

 Two-spotted Tree-hopper, or Menibracis Iri- 

 maculata of Fabricius,which may be found in 

 great abundance on the locust-tree (Robinia 

 pseudacacia) during the months of Sep- 

 tember arid October. These, as well as other 

 tree-hoppers, show but little activity when 

 undisturbed, remaining without motion for 

 hours together on the limbs of the trees ; 

 but, on the approach of the fingers, they leap 

 vigorously, and, spreading their wings at 

 the same time, fly to another limb and settle 

 there, in the same position as before. They 

 never sit across the limbs, but always in the 

 direction of their length, with the head or 

 fore part of the body towards the extremity 

 of the branches. On account of their pecu- 

 liar form, which is that of a thick cone with 

 a very oblique direction, their dark colour, 

 and their fixed posture while perching, they 

 would readily be mistaken for the thorns of 

 the tree, a circumstance undoubtedly in- 

 tended for their preservation. This insect 

 measures about half an inch from the tip of 

 the horn to the end of the body ; the male 

 is blackish above, with a long yellow spot 

 on each side of the back ; the female is ash- 

 coloured, and without spots. While on the 

 trees, these insects, though perfectly still, 

 are not unemployed ; but puncture the bark 

 with their sharp and slender beaks, and 

 imbibe the sap for nourishment. The female 

 also appears to commit her eggs to the pro- 

 tection of the tree, being furnished with a 

 piercer beneath the extremity of her body, 

 with which to make suitable perforations in 

 the branches. Another species, the ^yhite- 

 lined Tree-hopper (Membracis univittata\ 

 which may be found upon the oak-tree in 

 the U. States during the month of July. It 

 is about four-tenths of an inch in length ; 

 the thorax is brown, has a short obtuse 

 horn extending obliquely upwards from its 

 fore part, and there is a white line on the 

 back, extending from the top of the horn to 

 the hinder extremity. Tree-hoppers are 

 often surrounded by ants, for the sake of 

 their castings, and for the sap which oozes 

 from the punctures made by the former, of 

 which the ants are very fond. 



MENOBRANCHUS. A genus of Reptiles 

 belonging to the Salamander group, distin- 

 guished from the allied genera by its per- 

 sistent branchiae ; the head having two rows 

 of teeth in the upper and one row in the 

 lower jaw. There are four toes to each foot, 

 the toes being destitute of claws. There are 



at least two species of this genus found in 

 North America. 



MENURA. [See LYRE-BIRD.] 



MEPHITIS. A genus of carnivorous 



.is for th 

 smell. [See SKUNK.] 



MERGUS. A genus of Palmipede Birds ; 

 three species of which are found in this 

 country. 



The MERGANSER, or GOOSANDER. (Jtfer- 

 gus merganser.) These birds are nearly al- 

 lied to the Duck and Diver tribes. They 

 are inhabitants of the arctic regions, breed 

 ing very far north in summer, and migrating 

 southwards in winter ; in severe seasons oc- 

 casionally frequenting the lakes and rivers 

 of Britain, but leaving this country early in 

 the spring. Their food consists principally 

 of fish, which they take by rapid diving : 

 crustaceans, mollusca, and insects are also 

 devoured by them ; but they seem to be in- 

 capable of digesting vegetable matter of any 

 kind. The male weighs about four pounds, 

 and measures in length two feet three inches, 

 and across the wings three feet two inches. 

 The bill is three inches long, narrow, and 

 finely serrated, the tip being armed with a 

 hooked horny tip : both mandibles are black 

 on tne upper and under parts, and crimson 

 oil the sides : the head is large, and crowned 

 with a great quantity of long loose feathers, 

 which, when erected, form a crest ; these 

 feathers are of a glossy bottle-green ; the 

 cheeks and upper part of the neck are a dull 

 black ; the lower part, breast, belly, vent, 

 and inner wing-coverts of a fine cream co- 

 lour : the upper part of the back, and the 

 lower scapulars, are black ; the lower part 

 of the back and the tail are ash-coloured, 

 the latter consisting of eighteen feathers. 

 The legs and feet are very deep orange- 

 colour. The flesh of this aquatic bird is 

 accounted rank and fishy. 



The RED-BREASTED MERGANSER or 

 GOOSANDER. (Mergus serrator.) This spe- 

 cies measures one foot nine inches in length, 

 and weighs about two pounds : the bill is 

 long, hooked at the tip, and toothed at the 

 edges ; the upper mandible is dark brown, 

 tinged with green, and edged with red ; the 

 lower one wholly red : the irides are a pur- 

 plish red : the head, long pendent crest, and 

 upper part of the neck, are of a glossy violet 

 black, varying in different lights to a golden- 

 green i the neck and belly white ; the breast 



RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. 

 (MEROTJS SERRA.TOR.) 



