THE NYSSONID^. 473 



The two colours of black and yellow run through the genus, 

 and it is on account of their pied appearance that the name of 

 Monedula has been given to the insects. The colour is, liow- 

 ever, very differently arranged in the various species. One of 

 them, Monedula magnifica, of Brazil, has the ground colour 

 velvet-black, while at each side of the base of the abdomen 

 there is a large patch of deep orange, and an interrupted band 

 about the middle. Perhaps the most curiously marked species 

 is one in which the body is shining black, and has on the 

 abdomen four rows of circular greenish yellow spots arranged 

 with curious regularity. 



The family of the Nyssonidse, which comes next in order, 

 derives its name from a Greek word signifying " something that 

 pricks or goads," and is given to the insects on account of the 

 power of their stings. In none of those insects is the abdomen 

 attached to the thorax by a foot-stalk. 



Fig. 252.— Stizus speeinsiis. Male. 

 (P.lack and yellow.) 



The name Stizus is taken from the Greek, and signifies " a 

 point," in allusion to the sharp points which arm the end of 

 the abdomen in the male. The colour of Stiztis sjjeciosvs is 

 nearly the same as that of the Monedula. The abdomen is 

 shining black, diversified with patches of bright yellow, 

 arranged as shoM'n in the illustration. The shape and size of 



