SYNOPSIS OF PHASMID.E. O 



natural classification ; and a long and attentive study of tlie insects 

 which constitute the Phasmidce and Phyllidce of the anonymous 

 author has shown me too clearly the gradual nature of the transi- 

 tion between the linear and frequently apterous body of the former, 

 and the dilated and winged body of the latter, to allow of my 

 adopting those characters as the means of separating into distinct 

 families insects whose habits are the same. I continue, therefore, 

 to regard the Spectres of Stoll as a natural group, and include both 

 Phasma and Phy Ilium under the family name of Phasmidce, which I 

 have adopted from that excellent entomologist, Mr. Kirby. In 

 this family I have, as will hereafter be seen, many new generic 

 subdivisions to propose, in addition to those which have been 

 already instituted by M. Serville, which I can, however, only in 

 part adopt. 



I shall now proceed to offer some account of the structure of 

 these insects in their several parts, and of the principal modifica- 

 tions to which they are subject in the different genera which I have 

 found it expedient either to receive or to establish. 



The antennce of Phasmidce are generally inserted near the eyes, 

 and have their first and second joints compressed and broader than 

 the rest, and the basal and apical shorter than the intermediate 

 joints. These organs are sometimes setaceous and elongate, and 

 sometimes short and submonilifurm, varying in the number of 

 joints from thirty down to twelve. They also vary much in length, 

 even in the same subdivision, as well as in the sexes, being some- 

 times much longer than the body, and in other cases not exceeding 

 the mesothorax in length. 



The eyes are always large, prominent, and placed at the anterior 

 angles of the head ; and some of the Pterophasmata possess in 

 addition three distinct stemmata*, or ocelli, placed triangularly be- 

 tween them. 



* These organs were first mentioned by Stoll, in his characters for the fifth divi- 

 sion of his genus Spectrum: "5. Trois petits yeux lisses, disposes en triangle entre 

 ceuxareseau," — leavingit to be inferred that all thespeciesof that division possessed 

 them. Fabricius, on the other hand, takes not the slightest notice of them either 

 in his generic or specific characters; and Latreille, in his ' Genera Crustaceorum,' 

 &c. iii. p. 87, says of them, "Ocellis nullis aut vix discernendis." The Rev. Mr. 

 Kirby remarks, that" Latreille speaks of Phasma as having no stemmata; but it 

 seems that he examined only the apterous ones, all the winged individuals, at 

 least so far as I have examined them, having three very visible ones." It is evi- 

 dent from this sentence, that Mr. Kirby must himself have by chance examined those 

 species only which do possess stemmata; for many, even among the winged species, 

 are destitute of these organs. He remarks in continuation, that " it may, I think, 

 be laid down as a rule, that the larvae and pupae of Orthoptera have not these 

 organs;" and certainly the rule may be applied to this family with great propriety. 

 The use of them, Mr. Kirby tells us, "is probably for assisting them in flying;" 

 but as many species that are destitute of stemmata are provided with large wings, 

 equally with those which possess these organs, it must be regarded as doubtful 

 whether they exist for that purpose or not. The Apterous species unquestionably 

 do not possess them in the slightest degree. 



MM. Lepelletier and Serville have laid great stress on these organs as furnishing 



