224 
HEMIPTERA. 
after wliich they are seen ascending the stems of the creeper, 
on which they change their skins for the last time. This 
occurs from the middle to the end of June. 
There is a little tree-hopper, wdiich is found during the 
months of July and August on the wax-work, or Celastrus 
scandens^ accompanied usually by its young. When fully 
grown, it is nearly three tenths of an inch in length, including 
the horn of the thorax: is of a dusky brown color, with two 
yellowish spots on the ridge of the back; and the first four 
shanks are exceedingly broad and flat. It is the two-spot¬ 
ted tree-hopper, or Memhracis hinotata of Say. When seen 
sidewise it presents a profile much like that of a bird, the 
head and neck of which are represented by the curved 
projecting horn of the thorax ; and a group of these little 
tree-hoppers, of various sizes, clustered together on a stem 
of the Avax-work, may be likened to a flock of old and 
young partridges. They appear to pass through all their 
transformations on the plant, are fond of society, and sit 
close together, with their heads all in the same direction. 
Tree-hoppers are often surrounded by ants, for the sake 
of their castings, and for the sap which oozes fi’om the punc¬ 
tures made by the former, of Avhich the ants are very fond. 
Those kinds that live on the stems of plants from the time 
when they are hatched till they are fully grown, are very 
closely attended by ants ; and as from their constant suck¬ 
ing the young become often wet, their careful attendants, 
the ants, And regular employment in Aviping them clean and 
dry Avith their antennae and tongues. 
The remaining Homopterous insects haA^e a thorax of 
moderate size, not tapering to a point behind, and not cov¬ 
ering the Avhole body as in the preceding species. Their 
heads are \dsible from aboA^e, and the face slopes doAvnAvards 
toAvards the breast. 
Here may be arranged the singular insects called frog- 
hoppers J(CERCOPiDiDiE), Avhich pass their Avhole lives on 
plants, on the stems of Avhich their eggs are laid in the 
