MEANING OF SHAPES AND COLOURS OF THE MEMBRA ClDJE. 281 
Biologia, is justly described by Mr. Buckton as “ one of the most conspicuous amongst 
the Membracidce ” (p. 111). The figure strongly suggests warning or mimetic 
colouration, but a possible cryptic resemblance to a brilliant fungus, fruit, or flower- 
bud, should not be left out of account in the search for an interpretation. 
In Heteronotm (Plate XXX.) the resemblance of the pronotal shield to an ant has 
already been noted. The relation of the ant-like mask to the insect as a whole is 
well seen in the various figures of Plate XXX. Thus, the dorsal view shows only the 
mask with wings and legs and part of the head (Figs. 2 and 6a). The lateral view 
shows no more when the wings and tegmina are somewhat opaque, and are 
represented in the position which is probably natural during rest (Figs. 1, 3, 4). 
When they ai’e more transparent, as in Fig. 6, the abdomen may be seen through 
them, but it is probable that in the natural attitude this part of the body would be 
raised, and thus, at least, partially hidden by the underside of the mask. When, 
in a drawing of the side-view, the wings are represented as raised (Figs. 2a 
and 5), or when the insect is drawn from below (Fig. 4a), the true relationship 
of mask and insect proper is seen, and the entirely Homopterous character of 
the insect, as a whole, in spite of its Hymenopteron-like shield, will be at once 
appreciated. In Heteronotm trinodosu-s, figured in Canon Fowler’s monograph in 
the Biologia Centrali-Americana (Plate VI., Figs. 16, 16a, and 17), a bead-like 
dilatation is present in the part of the shield which represents the peduncle or 
stalk connecting the thorax and abdomen of an ant. This structure is evidently in 
mimetic resemblance of the bead-like enlargement of the peduncle in the Myrmicidce, 
the family of stinging ants which are specially characteristic of South America. 
This interesting detail in the likeness between model and mimic was pointed 
out to me by Mr. W. F. H. Blandford. Mr. Buckton considers that some of the 
species of this genus mimic striped spiders. If this be the case the resemblance 
would probably be to spiders which are themselves mimetic of ants, as are many of 
the Attidce. Observation upon the spot is, above all, necessary in order to settle the 
question ; but should it hereafter be decided in the affirmative, another example would 
probably be added to the many known instances of that secondary likeness between 
the mimics of some primary model which appears to be a sure indication of Mullerian 
(synaposematic) resemblance (Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1902, pp. 511-515). Another 
interesting subject which must be studied upon the spot is the investigation of the 
movements and habits of the mimetic Membracidce, and especially these ant-like forms. 
Mimics of ants are, as a rule, markedly ant-like in their movements, and we should 
expect this to be the case with the Membracidce , but so far as I am aware no special 
observations have been made upon them. 
The concluding genus Combophora, and sub-genus Anchistrotus, of the Darnince 
