452 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



diminutive foes."* Canon Fowler, who has been recently 

 writing on the Membracidce (Homoptera), referring to the genus 

 Sphongophorus, opines that, in some cases at all events, these 

 forms are protective, for, when at rest, many of the insects mustt 

 resemble pieces of dry twigs." t One of the most interesting, 

 but, to the writer, inexplicable, instances is given and figured by 

 Dr. Gregory, as observed in Eastern Central Africa. In this case 

 numbers of a species, — or of more than one, — of the homopterous 

 sub -family Flatince (Ityraea nigrocincta) adhere to a stem, and 

 closely resemble a flowering Transvaal plant (Sesamopteris penta- 

 phylla). The observer adds : — " It may be that the insects were 

 only rendered sluggish by the cold and rain, but it appears not 

 unlikely that the members of this species have very limited 

 powers of flight, and secured protection from birds by this 

 ingenious mimicry of a cluster of flowers." § I have frequently 

 seen other insects after heavy rain in the Transvaal follow the 

 same habit without any protective resemblance being obtained. || 

 A common orthopteron in La Plata (Rhomalea speciosa), when at 

 rest, is " only a pretty Grasshopper ; but the instant it takes wing 

 it becomes the fac-simile of a very common Wasp of the genus 

 Pepris"% 



Prof. C. Emery has published, in the ' Bull, del Soc. Ent. 

 Ital.' 1886, a short but interesting note on the habits of an Ant 

 (Camponotus lateralis). Of this species there are two varieties — 

 one black, like its nearest allies, the other red, with the abdomen 

 and part of the thorax black. They live in small colonies, and 

 make expeditions up trees to collect honeydew from the aphides. 

 The black type (C. foveolatus, Mayr ; C. ebeninus, Emery) some- 

 times go in troops, but generally a few join the troops of other 



* ' Voyage to Cape of Good Hope,' Engl, transl. 2nd edit. vol. ii. p. 16. 



f " Must " is an unfortunate expression, and in most arguments is equiva- 

 lent to "it is evident," which the late Prof. Clifford described as meaning " I 

 do not know how to prove." (' Lectures and Essays,' 2nd edit. p. 176.) 



| ' Biologia Centrali- Americana,' Bhynch. Homopt. vol. ii. p. 26. — 

 Whatever we may think of this suggestion, it is at least not more improbable 

 than some banter which lately appeared in an American entomological work 

 by Dr. Comstock, where we read that as regards the Membracidce, " Nature 

 must have been in a joking mood when Tree-hoppers were developed." 



§ ' The Great Eift Valley,' pp. 273-5, and figured on coloured frontis- 

 piece. || Cf. ' Zoologist,' 1898, p. 256. 



11 W. H. Hudson, ' The Naturalist in La Plata,' p. 127. 



