224 HEMIPTEEA. 



after wliicli they are seen ascending the stems of the creeper, 

 on which, they change their skins for the last time. This 

 occurs from the middle to the end of June. 



There is a little tree-hopper, which is found during the 

 months of July and August on the wax-work, or Celastrus 

 scandens, accompanied usually by its young. When fully 

 grown, it is nearly three tenths of an inch in length, including 

 the horn of the thorax ; is of a dusky brown color, with two 

 yellowish spots on the ridge of the back ; and the first four 

 shanks are exceedingly broad and flat. It is the two-spot- 

 ted tree-hopper, or Membracis binotata of Say. When seen 

 sidewise it presents a profile much like that of a bird, the 

 head and neck of which are represented by the curved 

 projecting horn of the thorax ; and a group of these little 

 tree-hoppers, of various sizes, clustered together on a stem 

 of the wax- work, may be likened to a flock of old and 

 young partridges. They appear to pass through all their 

 transformations on the plant, are fond of society, and sit 

 close together, with their heads all in the same direction. 



Tree-hoppers are often surrounded by ants, for the sake 

 of their castings, and for the sap which oozes from the punc- 

 tures made by the former, of which the ants are very fond. 

 Those kinds that live on the stems of plants from the time 

 when they are hatched till they are fully grown, are very 

 closely attended by ants ; and as from their constant suck- 

 ing the young become often wet, their careful attendants, 

 the ants, find regular employment in wiping them clean and 

 dry with their antennae and tongues. 



The remaining Homopterous insects have a thorax of 

 moderate size, not tapering to a point behind, and not cov- 

 ering the whole body as in the preceding species. Their 

 heads are visible from above, and the face slopes downwards 

 towards the breast. 



Here may be arranged the singular insects called frog- 

 hoppers (Cercopiduxe), which pass their whole lives on 

 plants, on the stems of which their eggs are laid in the 



