244 



ORTHOPTERA 



inserted near the front of the prosternum, which extends less 

 far forwards than the pronotum does ; the posterior part of the 

 prosternum is very elongate, and is completely separated from 



the anterior part by the base of 

 the coxae and the membranes 

 attached to them ; the pronotum 

 and sternum are closely connected 

 at the sides till near the posterior 

 part where they diverge, the space 

 so formed being occupied by a 

 membrane in which the prothoracic 

 stigma is situated. The meso- 

 thorax is as long as broad, and 

 the front wings are attached to 

 the whole length of the sides ; the 

 mesosternum is a triangular piece 

 FIG. 136. Head of Harpax variegatus, pointed behind, and bearing very 



seen from the front. . , . , . , 



large side -pieces, to the hinder 



portion of which the middle coxae are attached ; these latter are 

 large and quite free, and repose on the metasternuin which they 

 cover ; the mesothoracic stigma may be detected as a slit situated 

 on a slight prominence just behind and a little below the mem- 

 branous hind -margin of the tegmen. The metathorax differs 

 comparatively little in size and structure from the mesothorax ; 

 the membranous hind wings are attached to the sides of the 

 notum along nearly the whole length of the latter. The abdo- 

 men is moderately long ; in each sex ten dorsal plates may be 

 detected, and there is a pair of ringed cerci projecting from 

 beneath the sides of the tenth plate. The number of ventral 

 plates is more difficult to verify, the first one being much 

 reduced ; eight other plates can be demonstrated in the male 

 and six in the female. 



The anterior legs are formed in a remarkable manner in the 

 Mantidae, and are, in fact, the most characteristic feature of the 

 family. Attached near the front of the thorax there is a very 

 long coxa, to the apex of which is articulated the triangular 

 trochanter ; this bears the elongate femur, which is furnished on 

 its lower face with sharp spines and teeth ; the tibia which 

 follows is much shorter and smaller than the femur ; its lower 

 face bears also an armature of teeth, and it is so articulated with 



