42 BRITISH CICADA. 



over the surface gave the appearance of darkish bands, 

 suggesting a segmentation. On account of the dis- 

 tortion produced in the body-ring of the Cicadse 

 infested, some idea might probably arise that these 

 sacs were merely abnormal expansions of the horny 

 rings ; but this can scarcely be the case, on account of 

 the curious fibrous texture above noted, and the fact 

 that, when attached to the neck of the Cicada, a sort of 

 peduncle is seen, communicating with the living juices 

 of the host. (See Plate D, figs. 1 to 4.) 



Prof. Mik, in the month of September, planted, in 

 moist earth, living specimens of Glyccria fluitaus, Suc- 

 cisa pratensis, and some kinds of Carex. These were 

 all placed under a glass shade, after having introduced 

 upon the plants some specimens of Deltocephalus 

 zanthoneurus, which were encumbered with the sacs 

 alluded to. The Deltocephali soon began to suck the 

 juices of the Ghjceria, and, after feeding for twenty-four 

 hours, it was noted that the purse-like bodies had split 

 down their sutures, and that the empty shells gaped 

 open like the valves of a mussel. 



On one plant of Siiccisa was found a fat larva, and 

 afterwards two others amongst the flowers, which had 

 evidently escaped from other sacs. The separation 

 from these purse-like bodies was clearly a case of 

 exuviation. Before the disengagement of these larvae 

 the unfortunate hosts had become transparent from 

 the abstraction of their nutritive juices, and soon 

 afterwards they succumbed. 



These parasitic larvae are yellowish, shining, eyeless 

 maggots, about four millimetres in length, rather 

 broader at their posterior than their anterior extremi- 

 ties ; thirteen segments, together with the head, may 

 be counted, each segment carrying one dorsal and two 

 lateral bristles. Prof. Mik, in his memoir, gives a 

 detailed description of the head, the clypeus, labrum, 

 and short antennae, and he notes a kind of slit which 

 might conceal a sucking organ. Progression is effected, 

 maggot-like, by use of the before-mentioned bristles, 



