THE CICADELLINA. 413 



the tibiae, are much elongated and adapted for leaping. 

 These tibiae in Aphrophora and some of its allies are 

 of a rounded form, and furnished only with two or 

 three spines along the posterior surface, and amongst 

 the insects which exhibit this structure, is the most 

 gaily coloured of British Homopterous insects, the 

 Cereopis vulnerata, distinguished by its bright red 

 spots upon a black ground. It is about a third of an 

 inch in length, and is found abundantly in some 

 localities, principally upon ferns. Most of the species 

 of this group, however, are not contented with such 

 a moderate supply of spines on the hinder tibiae, 

 but exhibit two, or even three close-set rows of them. 

 Of these, many present nearly the general form of 

 Aphrophora, but they are, if anything, rather more 

 active ; many of the smaller species, such as the 

 little pale yellow Typhlocyba Rosa, so abundant upon 

 roses in our gardens, flying about freely in the hot 

 weather, especially towards evening. They are gene- 

 rally very similar in their habits, living upon various 

 plants and trees, the fluids of which they suck ; and 

 some, like the Aphrophora, protect themselves in the 

 larva state by a frothy covering. 



Some of the species are remarkable for peculiarities 

 in their form. Amongst these, perhaps, the most 

 singular of the British species is the Ledra aurita, 

 an ovate flat insect nearly three-quarters of an inch 

 in length and of a greenish-grey colour, which is oc- 

 casionally to be met with upon oak-trees. It has the 

 head very broad, flattened and membranous, and the 

 sides of the prothorax raised in the form of a pair of 

 ears, the whole insect, with its flattened and dilated 

 body and broad serrated hinder tibiae, presenting a 

 very curious appearance. 



