THE ORTHOPTERA. in 



the insects are most variable in colour, and their completely 

 apterous character rendering the distinction between larva 

 and imago a matter of considerable difficulty, it is 

 very probable that some of the smaller species may be 

 only immature specimens of the larger ones. 



Stick insects are easily kept in captivity, and will not be 

 found devoid of interest. They are great eaters, and 

 grow with considerable rapidity, frequently casting their 

 skin, a task of no easy accomplishment, which I once had 

 the pleasure of watching in the case of a specimen of Acan- 

 thoderus prasinus which I had under observation for 

 several months. 



The insect first suspends itself by its hind pair of legs, 

 keeping the others in the same position as when walking, 

 the head is bent in, and the antennae are placed along the 

 breast, the long abdomen hanging over backwards. 

 The skin then splits along the back of the thorax, and 

 the head and thorax are gradually pushed out. The 

 front and middle legs are immediately afterwards ex- 

 tracted, the long femora and tibiae easily passing the 

 sharp angles in the exuvia, owing to their complete 

 flexibility. When these are finally clear, the insect reaches 

 forwards with its fore-legs and draws the abdomen and 

 hind-legs out of the old skin, which remains attached to 

 the branch until dislodged by some accident. 



During the spring months great quantities of little stick 

 insects may be noticed on the parasitic ferns covering the 

 tree stems in the forest ; they are curious little animals, 

 their antics when simulating inanimate twigs being often 

 most amusing, and if the reader wishes to investigate a 

 comparatively untouched branch of entomology he cannot 

 do better than keep a number of these until mature, when 

 he will doubtless contribute much to our scanty knowledge 

 of this curious family. 



