MEMBRA CIDJE. 
11 
divided into three parts, each with its adjunct of wings or legs, hut of these three 
parts, by far the most remarkable is the region of the pronotum, which often is 
developed into the most fantastic shapes and excrescences. 
The Pronotum may be conveniently sub-divided into four, though there are no 
corresponding sutures to mark them anatomically. These are (1) the Metopidium,. 
(2) the Procephalon , (3) the Dorsum , and (4) the Posterior process. 
1. Metopidium. —Canon Fowler describes this first part as “ the declivous part of' 
the pronotum, reaching from the base of the head to the front of the dorsum.” 
It often rises perpendicularly or vertically for a space, and may then develop a 
long porrect or horizontal horn, as in Polyglypta, or develop into a vertical style, 
simple or branched, as in Stylocentrus, or it may form a convex curve, joining or 
running from the dorsal ridge, as in Enchenopa. 
2. The Procephalon is the portion above this metopidium just described. It is 
variable in form, and may extend backwards as a horn to the posterior apex, or 
sometimes it may branch into five or more curious balls or bullse, as seen in 
Bocydium. 
The supra-/timeral processes occur above the insertions of the wings, and when 
seen from the dorsal aspect, are divergent, wide apart, or appear as sharp thorn¬ 
like processes of various shapes. They maj r be broad and flattened at their tips, 
strongly serrated, carinated, or else rounded. They are not always present, in which 
case the pronotum is smooth, as in Darnis and Stictopelta. 
3. The Do, •sum comprises the ridge from between the supra-humeral processes 
(shortly called the suprci-liumerals ) to the region of the tail. Sometimes, as in 
Membracis proper, Ceresa, etc., this dorsal ridge is strongly convex and without any 
processes; but in other species the dorsal ridge may rise into very grotesque shapes. 
It may be contorted into almost amorphous masses, as shown in Sphongophorus. 
In considering a species it will be well to note whether these pronotal processes are 
truly cephalic or dorsal, and if they prove to belong to the latter, attention may be 
called to whether the horns or tubercles are single or double in character, smooth or 
reticulated, clavate, etc. 
The dorsal portion of the pronotum may also occur straight and horizontal as in 
Aconophora, it may be blown up as it were into bulbs as seen in Sphongophorus, or 
it may be raised into wart-like masses as in Pterygia. In Umbonia.and Triquetra the 
dorsal processes occur in the form of large recurved thorn-like projections, which well 
represent the prickly parts of shrubs or bushes like our own wild briars. Horny 
and strong, even red in colour as if bloody, they would suggest the propriety of 
careful handling, if the insects were ranged in a row on a stem, as on a bramble-stem. 
4. The Posterior process is continued often to the tips of the tegmina, and it 
