194 BRITISH CICADiE. 



few species resist the cold of our most severe winters, 

 mostly resorting then to the roots of small shrubs and 

 plants. Typhlocijha melissce, Dicraneura mollicula, and 

 D. variata will hybernate in the imago state mider the 

 snow; and Athyscums melanopsis may be captm*ed on 

 the bare hilJs at Haslemere dm-ing the cutting winds 

 of early March. Climate and approximation to the sea 

 probably modify colours in the smaller Tettigidse. 



During the present month, November, 1891, I have 

 received from a friendly correspondent some singularly 

 bright examples of Euacanthus interruptiis, Eupteryx 

 auritus, Bytlioscopus flavicollis, and Limotettix virescens, 

 captured near Edinburgh. Also, from the same gen- 

 tleman, some captures, in Elginshire, of Thamnotettix 

 cruentata, the markings and colours of which might 

 almost suggest a new species. Their pronota have 

 broad transverse bars, and are rich in fine red spots ; 

 whilst the wings are of a glancing steel-blue, not to be 

 seen in my figure. 



From another correspondent I have received several 

 Cicada from Cushenden, near Antrim in Ireland. 

 They, as a rule, are darker in tone, and are more 

 strongly marked than the English insects of the same 

 species. 



A naked-eye view of these small Hemiptera gives an 

 inadequate idea of their true colours, and these tints 

 are not much improved by the use of a single lens. It 

 is only when the insects are examined with a three- 

 inch or long-focussed objective on a good microscope, 

 with the light of a daylight condenser, that their 

 striking colours and markings can be appreciated. 



Many of my figures have been drawn from type 

 specimens, some of which are rather faded. Delicate 

 colours, like green and some yellows, fly by age, whilst 

 the reds and browns are more persistent. Thus recent 

 specimens will be found sometimes to out-do my 

 representations of them, which, as a rule, are not too 

 bright; for the beautiful half-tints of the insects can 

 be only fairly shown by lithochrome processes. 



