PEEFACE. 



The fifth plate gives the natural colors, for the first time, of 

 another Leather-jacket, the most common on our shores, the 

 M. hippocrepis. These Leather-jackets are almost universally 

 shunned by the natives and fishermen as extremely poisonous ; 

 while, in reality, they are excellent food for the table and perfectly 

 wholesome. 



The three following plates illustrate a further instalment of 

 the magnificent collection of Polyzoa made by Mr. MacGillivray, 

 who has presented the specimens to our National Museum and 

 the descriptions to this work. 



The next plate, No. 129, shows the males and curiously 

 abnormal, apterous female of the most aberrant genus of the 

 Gryllidce, the Acripeza. 



The last plate figures the male, female, and details, for the 

 first time, of the largest of our carnivorous Orthoptera, the 

 Mantis latistylus. 



The succeeding Decades will illustrate as many different genera 

 as possible, and will deal first, usually, with species of some special 

 interest, and of which good figures do not exist or are not easily 

 accessible. 



Frederick McCoy. 



13th September, 1886. 



