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XV. Defcription of the Phafma dilatatum. By Mr. John Parkin/on* 



K L. S. 



Read Nov, 7 , 1797. 



THIS Angular animal, which appears to be a fpecies hitherto 

 undefcribed, is at prefent in the Leverian Mufeum. It is 

 fuppofed to be a native of Ana ; and belongs to that tribe of infects 

 which Stoll has called by the title of Spectres, and which conftitute 

 a diflincl: genus from that of Mantis. The prefent fpecies meafures 

 fix inches and a quarter from the upper part or top of the head to 

 the extremity of the abdomen. The whole animal is of a flattened 

 form, more efpecially on the abdomen, which meafures about an 

 inch and a half acrofs in its broadeft part. The thorax is of an 

 obtufely rhomboidal form, the fides doping each way from the 

 flattilh upper part. The whole thorax is not only edged with 

 fpines, but has alfo feveral very fharp ones diftantly fcattered over 

 its iurface. The head rifes up backwards into an obtufely conic 

 fhape, and has feveral very ftrong and large fpines or procefles. The 

 abdomen is edged, almofl throughout its whole length, with a con- 

 tinued feries of fmall fpines, to the number of five on the fide of 

 each individual fegment : the extreme fegments are without fpines. 

 The thighs, or firft joints of the lower pair of legs, are in this infect 

 remarkably ftrong, of a fomewhat triangular fhape, and befet with 



fome 



