544 INSECTA. 



the type of the following family, that the first of those natu- 

 ralists places them in that genus. The organs of manducation 

 present the same affinities ; thus in the first, the ligula is mem- 

 branous, bifid or bilobate,.as in the Longicornes; their max- 

 illsp also greatly resemble those of these latter; but in the last 

 this ligula is almost square or rounded, and analogous to that 

 of the Cyclica. 



The maxillary lobes, however, are membranous, or but 

 slightly coriaceous, whitish or yellowish ; the external one is 

 widened near the extremity and does not present the figure 

 of a palpus, characters which give these parts more resem- 

 blance to those of the Longicornes than to those of the Cy- 

 clica. The body is more or less oblong, and the head and 

 thorax arc narrower than the abdomen ; the antennsR are fili- 

 form, or gradually cnlai'ge towards the extremity and are 

 inserted before the eyes, which, in some, are entire, round, 

 and tolerably prominent; and, in others, are slightly emargi- 

 nated. The head is received posteriorly into the thorax, 

 which is cylindrical or forms a transverse square. Tiie abdo- 

 men is large, compared to the other joints of the body, and 

 forms a long square or an elongated triangle. The joints of 

 the tarsi, with the exception of the last; are furnished w-ith 

 pellets beneath, and the penultimate is bifid or bilobate. The 

 posterior thighs are strongly inflated in a great many, and 

 hence the denomination of the family. 



All these Insects liave wings, and are found on the stems 

 or leaves of various plants, but, so far as regards a great num- 

 ber of species that inhabit France, on those of the LiliaceaB 

 particularly. The larvae of some — the Donacias — attack the 

 internal part of the roots of aquatic plants, on which we find 

 the perfect Insect. Those of several others live exposed, 

 but they cover themselves with their ejfcrements which they 

 form with' a sort of case or scabbard, like that of the Cassidae. 



We will divide this family into two tribes : 



The first, that of the Sagrides, is composed, as its name 

 indicates, of the genus 



