NOTES AND QUERIES. 519 



Pcecilopsaltria horizontalis, Karsch. This handsome species is by far 

 the most scarce, and, moreover, I found it difficult to catch, owing to its 

 habit of sitting high up on the small branches of the " machabel " tree, to 

 which it seems confined. Like the preceding species, the cry starts low, 

 and gradually rises to a very shrill and piercing note, much louder than 

 that of any other species. Although I only captured it first on Oct. 17th 

 it must have been out some time before, as it disappeared about the end of 

 the same month. I forgot to mention that, unlike P. bombifrons, the high 

 note in its call is sustained for some time, alternating in regular cadences 

 with the lower notes. 



Platypleura centralis, Dist., differs from the preceding species in that 

 it frequents the main trunk of its special tree (the "mfuti"), and this I 

 suppose accounts for its markedly longer rostrum. The colouring is 

 beautifully adaptive, and the black central line tends to the deception, from 

 its resemblance to the cracks in the scaly bark. Like Platypleura 

 rutherfordi, this insect continues calling after sundown, almost till dark ; 

 and I have also been awakened by it a good half-hour before sunrise. I 

 have taken five examples at light. Is it possible that Cicadas fly much at 

 night ? When taking their numbers into account, it is very seldom indeed 

 that I have ever seen any on the wing in the daytime, except when 

 disturbed. This species, and also Pcecilopsaltria bombifrons, seem very 

 subject to attack from a very large Asilus fly, which catches them on the 

 wing. I have seen a good many too caught at rest by small Lizards. The 

 cry is fairly high pitched, but not shrill or piercing ; it is fairly steady, but 

 broken occasionally for a few seconds by a lower churring note. 



Pcecilopsaltria leopardina, Dist. I captured my first specimen on 

 Nov. 2nd, but am inclined to think it was about the latter half of October, 

 and that I overlooked it as being P. horizontalis. The cry is very similar, 

 and has the same piercing shrillness, but it is not so loud, and the 

 preliminary lower notes are characterized by a curious throbbing sound. 

 At present it is quite the most ubiquitous kind, frequenting many different 

 kinds of trees, but I have only seen it in any numbers on the " machabel." 

 Have taken three at light. 



Monomatapa insignis, Dist. I first noticed this species on the 15th, 

 sitting on the thin stems of a bush, which occurred in a long strip between 

 two patches of " mopani." There were a lot of them, and they were very 

 conspicuous on the leafless stems; but now they have emigrated to the 

 " mopanis." They did not begin calling till the 18th, and are hardly yet in 

 full song. The cry is loud, but the chirp is not short or sharp, and there 

 is an additional note at the end of it. — Guy A. K. Marshall. 



[The above interesting notes are contained in a letter dated Nov. 21st, 

 1895, which I received from Mr. Marshall, with a collection of Cicadidse 



