30 
MEMBRA CIDJE. 
All the species hitherto known have their habitats in the Old World. As specimens 
are rare, and seldom to be seen in collections, small apology will be needed for their 
appearance in my first plate—a position originally indicated by Dr. Fairmaire in his 
treatise and classification. 
His description is shortly, “Omnino nigro fulvum, nigroque punctatum.” 
Prof.* Bolivar gives “ Femoribus anticis compressis vix duplo longioribus quam 
latioribus. Pronoto magno, valde compresso, foliaceo radiatim venoso. Elytris 
oblongis vel nullis, alis nullis.” 
He describes four species—viz.: X. fuscum (Bolivar), Sierra-Leone; X. platycoryx 
(Westwood), Afrique; X. simile (Bolivar), Angola; X. servillei (Fairmaire), Afrique. 
Prof. Bolivar asks, in common with other naturalists, what can be the signifi¬ 
cance of these greatly developed pronota, formed of membranaceous plates and 
furnished with numerous veins and recurrent nervures which give the appearance of 
vegetable leaves. 
Probably the insects live amongst the debris of decaying wood and dry foliage, 
and they assume their brown tobacco-like colours for concealment, and for escape 
from their insect enemies. 
The forms of the pronota in the Membracidie are also interestingly reproduced 
in some of the Acridians, and Prof. Bolivar figures examples of: Xeropliyllum simile, 
Cladonotus humbertianus, with its curious dorsal horn, and Misythus lamincilus, all 
recalling the forms of certain Membracidse. 
XEROPHYLLUM SERVILLEI. 
(Plate I. figs. 1 to le.) 
Xerophyllum servillei, Fairm., Ann. de la Societe de France, 1845-1846, plate iv. figs. 10, 11, 12. 
X. servillei, Bolivar, Essay sur les Acridiens. 
Head small. Frons foliaceous. Carinated between the eyes and bifurcated 
below. Antennae obvious. Ocelli below, seated in pits. Prothorax semi-circular in 
outline, overhanging the head, foliaceous, more or less flattened, much reticulated, 
and veined like a brown and dry leaf. 
Abdomen pointed and ringed. Legs remarkable from the femora and the 
fore-tibise being both notched and foliated. The middle and second tibiae folded 
and concealed under the thighs. 
Tarsi very weak in the fore legs, long and curiously spurred on the hind legs. 
Tegmina mere scales. Wings obsolete. 
Size, 13 x 8 mm. 
Habitat. —Old Calabar. Figured from own cabinet. 
* Ign. Bolivar, Essai sur les Acridiens, Ann. de la Soc. Ent. Belgique. Gand (1887). 
