MEMBIIA CIDJE. 
166 
stems, form striking instances of protective mimicry. A black and white species 
(which unfortunately is not named) he frequently met in clusters of a dozen 
or two. 
As a rule they keep quite still on the approach of a human being, but on being 
disturbed they fly on to another part of the same plant, or perhaps to the next one. 
They seldom make long flights, usually only a few inches at a time ; in fact their 
flight is more like a sudden spring from one branch to another. Often they do not 
take the trouble to fly on being disturbed, but merely sidle round from one part of a 
branch to the other, in an amusing manner. 
Mr. Rosenberg continues : “ I found a number of the above mentioned black and 
white species nestled on a certain bush one day, and I tapped the branch with 
my stick, causing them to scatter over the plant. The next day I saw that they had 
congregated again on the very same part of the same branch.” 
In these habits many Membracidse seem here to imitate our small grass-flies, such 
as Tettigonia, Typhlocyba, and Eupteryx belonging to the Homopterous group, and 
not far removed from the sub-family now under description. 
Some of the Smiliinse appear metallic-golden when living, but they dry to a light 
brown or yellow colour. Such as possess these metallic hues recall some Cassidae 
and Coleoptera, but Mr. Rosenberg says he never found these in groups, but 
generally they were beaten singly out of bushes or grass. 
Mr. Rosenberg points out that Cachabe is on the sea-coast of Ecuador. The 
wide term “the Andes” of some authors does not give much help in establishing a 
locality in such an extensive range of mountains. 
The genera Parmula, Amastris, and Hypamastris are characterised by having the 
apical areas of the wings (tegmina?) strongly stylate, that is pedunculate or furcate. 
For the use of those who appreciate the small differences shown between these genera, 
and the genus Ceresa, I give figures setting forth the neuration of their tegmina. 
It must be confessed that so far as the neuration is concerned, the whole 
family of Membracidse is complex, and the tables which have been hitherto constructed 
have been styled as little more than “representative sign posts” to assist the student, 
than as forming the basis of a natural classification. 
The family Smiliinse is a large one, and its subdivision has already been effected. 
Yet even here, Dr. Groding and others suggest a still greater sectional grouping as 
Cerasini, Polyglyptini, Smiliini, Telamonini, Cyphoniini, and Acutalini. 
Stales tables in some cases break down, and require modification, as new species 
are discovered. A clear nomenclature of the alary areas is much wanted throughout 
all the Insecta, but the lesson to be learnt from a balance of all considerations, is 
well nigh unattainable under present available means. 
