THE CICADA OF GUERNSEY. 207 



The belief that the cuckoo spits out this moisture is very 

 general in Guernsey. Mr. Buckton says that " Ancient beliefs, 

 with a love of the marvellous mixed with credulity, find 

 exponents in our day. In the author's knowledge a question 

 was raised amongst some friends as to the origin of cuckoo- 

 spit. A wag gravely stated that the bird made itself hoarse 

 by singing his oft repeated note, and that during the fits of 

 silence he relieved his throat in the manner shown on the 

 vegetation around. An otherwise intelligent auditor accepted 

 the explanation as satisfactory, just in the same manner as 

 our forefathers have done." 



A tenacious liquid is secreted by the larva through which 

 bubbles of air are rapidly blown. It has been known to blow 

 as many as seventeen bubbles in the course of half-a-minute. 



After remaining on the herbage a week or more and 

 serving as a protection to the soft bodied occupant, both from 

 its enemies and the droughts of summer, the frothy mass 

 thickens by evaporation and then it forms a cavity in which 

 the final transformation is effected. An allied species, a 

 native of Madagascar, emits a large quantity of watery fluid 

 which drops from the trees even in the hottest times of the 



Although this list must be considered very incomplete, 

 still it is the first that has been compiled for any of the 

 Channel Islands. 



I am indebted to Mr. James Edwards, F.E.S., the best 

 authority on the order in England, for his great kindness in 

 examining and naming the specimens. 



HEMIPTERA-HOMOPTERA. 



ISSIDJE. 

 ISSUS eoleoptratus, Geoff. Beaten commonly from ivy near Moulin Huet 

 Bay in September and October. 



cixiid^;. 

 Cixius pilosus, 01. Taken by sweeping low herbage near the coast. Very 

 abundant near Rocquaine Bay on Midsummer Day, 1892. 



DELPHACID^E. 

 Liburnia Vittipennis, J. Sahl. One specimen taken at Saints Bay, June, 



1891. 

 L. leptosoma, Flor. Several taken during May at Saints Bay and the 



G-ouffre. 

 L. pellueida, Fab. Not uncommon near Saints Bay, May and June. 

 L. lineata, Perris. Two specimens taken at Torteval, June 24th, 1892. 

 L. fumipennis. Common near the borders of streams ; has not been recorded 



from Great Britain. 



CERCOPID^. 

 Aphrophora alni, Fall. The largest of our Guernsey Homoptera, and is 

 to be had in abundance by beating low bushes near the coast. 



