148 OETHOPTEEA. 



Abdomen $ fusiforme, <f gracile ; lamina supra-analis transversa. Cerci bene articulati, longiusculi. 

 Lamina infra-genitalis c? stylis styliformibus instructa. 



2 . Elytra abbreviata, abdomen dimidium tegentia, coriaeea, campo marginali angusto, ultra medium attenuato, 

 apice oblique rotundato-truncato ; stigmate corneo nigro, disco basi et ultra medium fusco-punctato vel 

 maculoso, pone stigma albescente. Alae pellucenti-fuscse, caeruleo- vel aeneo- splendide nitentes, amplae, 

 latiores quani longae, elytris sensim breviores ; campus anterior apice angulatus, margine apicali trans- 

 verso, subsinuato ; sinus analis nullus ; campus posterior postice valde arcuatus, venulis transversis 

 subhyalinis ; campus anterior ante apicem maculis nonnullis fuscis, ubique inter venas quadrato-reticu- 

 latus, areolis magna parte latioribus quam altioribus. 



c? . Elytra haud abbreviata, latiuscula, vitrea, parallela, apice ad partem anteriorem rotundato ; venis ad basin 

 campi marginalis dense reticulatis ; discus ante medium macula obliqua brunnea, obsoletissima baud opaca. 

 Campi discoidalis venulse transversa?, ab antero-externo ad postero-internum leviter obliqua?. Alae vitreae, 

 quadrato-reticulatae, venulis perpendicularibus etsi in basi campi antici. Sinus analis distinctus. Vena 

 ulnaris furcata. Areae campi postici per venam spuriam distincte divisae. 



The true position of this genus is somewhat uncertain. It does not fit well into the 

 tribe Mantinee in consequence of its tuberculated pronotum and its very short legs, but 

 it can scarcely be placed in a different tribe. 



It bears a false resemblance to Popa, Stal, on account of its short legs ; but, except 

 for the two tubercles on the pronotum, it has no affinity with the Harpaginae. On the 

 contrary, the form of the body and of the elytra, and the habitus of the female, are 

 quite those of Stagmomantis. 



Melliera bears some relationship to the Cuban genus Gonatista, Sauss., as it has the 

 collar of the pronotum not contracted and rounded anteriorly, and the intermediate 

 and hind femora incrassated at the base. In Gonatista the anterior part of the pro- 

 notum is slightly papillate (though not tuberculate), and the elytra, $ and s , also 

 somewhat resemble those of Melliera ; but the legs are longer, and the armature of the 

 first pair is very different. Moreover, Gonatista belongs to the section of Mantinse with 

 elongate supra-anal plates. 



"We are of opinion, therefore, that Melliera should be placed next to the genus Stag- 

 momantis, although rather aberrant in this group of Mantinee. 



1. Melliera atopogamia, Sauss. (Tab. VII. figg. 7, 8.) 



Melliera atopogamia, Sauss. Societas Entomologica, 1892, p. 123. 



2* Eulvo-grisea, fusco-marmorata. Scutellum faciale quam altum ter latius, margine superiore arcuato. 

 Prothoracis collum supra obsolete quadri-mamillatum ; dorsum ad ampliationem tuberculis magnis elevatis 

 2 instructum ; margines remote obtuse denticulati. Elytra ad medium abdomen extensa, fusco-irrorata ; 

 margine antico arcuato ; stigmate corneo nigro ovato ad medium venae discoidalis posito, postice cum 

 macula alba confuso. — Pedes fusco-fasoiati. Antioi intus testacei, trocbanteribus femorumque basi nigris ; 

 spinis apice nigris; illis marginis interna alternatim nigris; tibiis margine superiore arcuato; subtus 

 spinis : intus 13, extus 10. — Lamina supra-analis rotundata, subincisa. 



$ . Scutellum faciale superne nonnunquam subbisinuatum. Prothoracis collum vix, vel baud mamillatum ; 

 ejus ampliatio haud tuberculata, tantum utrinque leviter subtumida. — Elytra et alae vitrea ; venis omnibus 

 fusco-ferrugineis. — Elytra abdomen paulum superantia ; venulis campi discoidalis saltern in medio fractis, 

 sigmoidalibus. Alarum vena ulnaris frequenter bisfurcata. Lamina supra-analis transverse rotundato- 

 trigonalis. 



$ . Long. 49 ; pronot. 15, femor. ant. 11-5, elytr. 18-5, latit. elytr. 8 millim. 



cJ . Long. 44 ; pronot. 12-5, iemor. ant. 9, elytr. 305, latit. elytr. 7*25 millim. 



