520 THE ZOOLOGIST. 



made at Gadziraa, on the Middle Umfuli River, Mashunuland. The 

 collection I have since worked out (Ann. Mag. Nat. Hist. Ser. 6, vol. xix. 

 p. 125, 1897), and the present discussion affords a good opportunity for 

 publishing these original field observations. — Ed.]. 



Stridulation of Cicadidae. — Both in Central Africa (Nyasaland) and 

 the West Indies I have taken Cicadas at light. In the Transvaal I have 

 also taken them at rest on tree-trunks, but I do not think they were taken 

 in consequence of their " song " having thus localized them. It is always 

 easy to spot what tree they are on, but I noticed they chose the tops 

 of small trees which were out of reach and sight, as there they got the 

 most sun. It is the warmth they need, and they do not generally shrill 

 unless the sun is out. I have netted them in bright sunshine, as they flew 

 off the trees on my approach. At Zomba I caught a large species by 

 actually localizing its noise, but that was the only instance of the kind 

 that I remember. — Percy Kendall (Devonshire Club, S.W.). 



Stridulation and Habits of Cicadidae.— By the above notes it will be 

 seen that both Mr. Guy Marshall and Dr. Percy Kendall took Cicadidae 

 " at light." This was my own experience in the Malay Peninsula ; and 

 yet, strange to say, in South Africa, though I visited the electric lamps of 

 Pretoria for three years, and made a large collection of Heterocera and 

 other insects therefrom, I never saw nor took a single specimen of the 

 family under such conditions. 



In addition to the two species, Platypleura centralis and P. rutherfordi, 

 which Mr. Marshall found calling "after sundown almost to dark," my 

 experience was the same with the small and scarce species, Platypleura 

 haglundi, Stal. This rare Cicadad I heard in the Waterberg district of the 

 Transvaal just before sundown, and without any difficulty located the tree 

 from whence the stridulating music proceeded, when by a close scrutiny in 

 the fading light I took a set of specimens from off the twigs and branches, to 

 the colour of which they assimilate in colouration. I cannot conceive that 

 my ears or eyes were superior to those of any insectivorous bird. That 

 birds do thus capture Cicadas is vouched for by Mr. A. H. Swinton, who 

 paid considerable attention to the family in Italy. " About the commence- 

 ment of July there appeared, as if by magic, certain greyish insectivorous 

 birds with a harsh and guttural note, among the sunny vines and woody 

 knolls where the Cicadse had established their coteries ; and these, sitting 

 on the low brambles, sometimes two together, knavisbly whistled a tune 

 until an unwary chanticleer was inveigled to respond, and so betray his 

 hiding. The obnoxious intruders then flew at him, and brought him to 

 the ground in their beak and claws, screaking most piteously, 'Wheel 

 whee !' " (' Insect Variety,' p. 21). And that I am not alone in my expe- 



