186 



CICADID^E, OR CICADAS. 



incisions into the leaves and stems of plants. This sub-order 

 may be divided, like the Coleoptera, according to the number of 

 joints in the tarsi. These sections are only three in number: in 

 the first, TRIMERA, the tarsi are three-pointed. ; in the second, 

 DIMERA, they are but two-jointed ; and in the third, MONOMERA, 

 they have but one joint. 



782. Section I. TRIMERA. The three-jointed division of the 

 Homoptera includes three families, the CICADID^E, or Cicadas, 

 the CERCOPID^, or Froth-hoppers, and the FULGORIDJE, or Lan- 

 tern-flies. The CICADID^E are the largest of the Order ; one 



species measuring between six and 

 seven inches in the expanse of 

 its wings. They are nearly all 

 inhabitants of tropical or the 

 warmer temperate regions ; only 

 one small species having been 

 found in this country. They have 

 large wings, which are sometimes 

 transparent and sometimes opaque, 

 but are not very active in their 

 habits ; being generally found upon 

 trees or shrubs, whose juices they 

 suck. The female makes a suc- 

 cession of slits in the small twigs 

 with her ovipositor, and deposits her 

 eggs in these ; the young larvae 

 soon quit their birth-place, however, 

 and descend to the ground, where 



they increase in size and become pupae. It is a species of Cicada 

 inhabiting a kind of Ash, which, by puncturing it, causes it to 

 discharge the sweet, slightly purgative substance, that is known 

 as Manna. Of the peculiar sound-producing powers of the 

 Cicadidae, an account has been elsewhere given (ANIM. PHYSIOL. 

 679). The ancient Greeks used the pupae and perfect insects 

 as articles of food. 



783. The FULGORID^E bear a general resemblance to the 

 Cicadidae, but are destitute of organs for producing sound, and 



FIG. 512. CICADA. 



