HETEROPTERA. 559 
One species of Cicada is a native of England (Cicada Anglica), and is to 
be found in the New Forest. 
THE Cercopide, or Hoppers, are well known in this country, mostly from 
the habits of the larva, and the saltatorial powers of the perfect insect. The 
CUCKOO-SPIT, or FROG-HOPPER, is very plentiful in this country. The 
larva fixes itself upon various plants, and sucks their juices through its long 
beak, which it plunges into the soft substance. When the accumulation of 
froth is very great, which usually happens in the heat of the day, a drop of 
clear water begins to form at the lowest part, into which the froth drains 
itself, and is presently relieved by the falling of the drop. The scientific 
. name of this insect is Aphrophora spumaria. The species which is repre- 
sented in the engraving belongs to the same genus as the beautiful SCARLET 
HOPPER of England, so frequently found on ferns in the outskirts of woods. 
Passing by the Psyllidz, another family of this order, we come to the 
APHIDES, a family comprising a great number of species. The whole history 
of these insects is remarkable in the extreme, presenting many points which 
seem most incredible, which destroy several old-established opinions, and in 
all probability will serve, when fully investigated, in establishing a new basis 
on which to found a more perfect system. The Aphides are wonderfully 
prolific, crowding upon plants until they completely hide them from view, 
and all employed in sucking the juice by means of the peculiar beak. They 
haunt every part of the plant, the leaves and their stalks, the branches, and 
even the roots being infested by these persevering destroyers, which often do 
great damage, and even force the leaves and branches to twist themselves 
into extraordinary contortions. Some species raise certain excrescences 
which serve as habitations for the insects. 
In many species there is a pair of tubercles towards the extremity of the 
insect, which exude a sweetish liquid in a manner analogous to the frothing 
of the Cuckoo-spit. This liquid falls upon the leaves of trees, and is then 
known by the name of honey-dew. Bees are very fond of this substance, 
and, wherever it is present in any quantities, may be seen licking up the 
sweet secretion. Ants are equally fond of honey-dew, but they go to the 
fountain-head at once, and lap it as it flows from the tubercles. Whole 
regiments of ants may be seen ascending trees in search of the Aphides ; 
and it is very amusing to see how they will search every atom of a tree on 
which the Aphides live, so as not to allow a single insect to escape them. 
The COCHINEAL INSECT (Coccus cactZ) belongs to the same order. This 
species is a native of Mexico, and lives upon a kind of cactus, called from its 
insect guest the Cactus cochinelliferus. 
The Lac INSECT (Coccus dacca) resides in Indiaand the hotter parts of Asia. 
HETEROPTERA, 
THESE insects are readily known by several conspicuous characteristics. 
The wings are four in number, and the front pair are very peculiar in their 
structure, the basal portion being horny, like the elytra of beetles, and the 
remaining portion membranous, like the hinder wings of the same insect. 
In some species, however, the wings are wanting, as in the common Bed-bug 
(Cimex lectularius). The body is always much flattened, the mouth is beak- 
like, and in the pupal stage the creature is active and resembles the perfect 
insect, except in its want of wings. 
THE family of the Nepide is represented in England by the common 
WATER SCORPION, a very flat and leaf-like insect, which is found abundantly 
in slow-running streams, ditches, and ponds. It derives its popular name 
from its scorpion-like aspect, the two slender filaments appended to the abdo- 
