( 41 ) IV. A Synopsis of British Homoptera-Cicadina. By James Edwards. [Read February 3rd, 1886.] The object of the present Synopsis is to provide students of our British Cicadina with a concise descriptive cata-logue of such species as have hitherto been recorded as occurring in Britain, and, by furnishing the means of identifying their captures, to add to the interest of their pursuit. The study of these insects in this country is still in its infancy, and, seeing that more than twenty years have elapsed since the last attempt to deal with the group collectively, it is felt that little apology is needed for the present undertaking. The arrangement here adopted, and the characters employed, are simply intended to apply to our British forms ; but it is believed that the analytical tables and short descriptions embrace the most reliable characters assigned to the respective species, and will be found as absolute as the difficulty of the subject will permit. Every reasonable care has been taken to insure accuracy in the bibliographical references, but the writer cannot assume any personal responsibility in the matter, being largely indebted in this respect to the Catalogue of Messrs. Douglas and Scott, and the continental works of Sahlberg, Flor, and others. Characters drawn from the genitalia have not been used, except where absolutely necessary, but it is nevertheless imperative that the student should make himself thoroughly acquainted with the structure of the latter, for, although in certain groups {Acocephalus, Idiocerus, &c.), they scarcely present any available differential characters, in others {Delphacidce, Typldocyhidce, &c.), the most striking and constant structural differences are observable. The crown is that portion of the head which is visible from above, and the passage from this to the face (the obliquely sloping under side of the head considered as a whole) is i\iQ forehead. The face is generally divided by TRANS. ENT. SOC. LOND. 1886. PART II. (JUNE.) E
BioStor
