CICADI CE RCOPID J: . 
Ins. 285 
ClCADID^. 
Mayer, P. Der Tonapparat der Cikaden. Z. wiss. Zool. xxviii. pp. 
79-92, woodcuts. 
The writer commences by noticing the observations of others on the 
drum of the Cicada, and then details his own observations and experi- 
ments. He sums up the results of his inquiries as follows ; — 
(1) The song of most species of Cicada is a quick repetition of the 
same short tone. 
(2) The sound-apparatus consists of two drum -heads, and the accom- 
panying muscles. It is only present in the male, and forms part of the 
first segment of the abdomen. 
(3) The whole animal, except the head' and the first two segments of 
the thorax, serves as a resonant apparatus, and the sound is especially 
strengthened by the inflated abdomen. 
(4) The drums are protected by two folds, arched over them from the 
abdomen. 
(5) The drum is formed of the skin lying between the two first seg- 
ments of the abdomen. At the bottom is placed the first stigma, which 
produces the sound in the male. 
(6) The sound apparatus differs considerably in various species, and 
requires to be studied to ascertain the course of its development. 
Petrolystra, g. n., S.^H. Scudder, Bull. U. S. Geol. Surv. iv. p. 530. A 
gigantic form of Aphrophorina ; types, P. gigantea and heros, spp. nn., 
1. c. pp. 531 & 532, Tertiary shales of Florissant, Colorado. 
New species : — 
Platypleura andamana, W. L. Distant, Tr. E. Soc. 1878, p. 174, Anda- 
man Isles. 
Tosena albata, id. 1. c. p. 175, N.W. Himalaya ; T. splendida, id. Ent. 
M. M. XV. p. 76, Naga and Khasia Hill districts. 
Cercopid.®. 
Distant, W. L. Notes on some Hemiptera-Homoptera, with descriptions 
of new species. Tr. E. Soc. 1878, pp. 173-179. 
He discusses the generic synonymy of the Cercopina, to show the 
uncertainty of drawing conclusions on geographical distribution from 
generic calculations alone. 
New species : — 
Tomaspis modesta, W. Africa, monteironis, Delagoa Bay, and conspicua, 
Nyassa. p. 176, binotata, W. Africa, and nyassce, Nyassa, p. 177, id. Tr. E. 
Soc. 1878. 
Sphenorrhina distincta, Ivsizu, plagiata, p. 178, and septemnotata, Costa 
Rica, grandis, New Granada, and bogotana, Bogota, p. 179, id. 1. c. 
Cosmoscarta andamana, p. 175, Andaman Isles, borealis, Khasia Hills, 
