486 Records of the Indian Museum. [Vota 
of parthenogenesis in the latter species (Spolia Zeylanica, VII, 
p. 54). 
T. V. Ramakrishna Aiyer describes the life-history of stick- 
insects hatched from eggs laid in a group on a wooden rafter 
instead of singly and loose (J.B. N.H.S., XXII, pp. 641-3, 1 pl.). 
I have never seen any record of the fact that, in some 
Phasmids at least, copulation and oviposition go on simulta- 
neously. This is certainly so in the case of a large stick-insect ? 
common near Kurseong in the rains. The union continues for 
several days on end, perhaps longer; and eggs are protruded from 
an apperture ventral to that occupied by the penis of the male. 
Mantidae. 
Anderson (Proc. A.S.B., 1877, pp. 193-5) and Willey (Spola 
Zeylanica, II, pp. 198-9, 2 pl.) describe the floral simulation of 
Gongylus gongylodes. Willey (Spolta Zeylanica, III, pp. 226-7) 
describes the stridulation of this species, and an account of its 
development has been published by Williams (Tvans. Ent. Soc. 
London, 1904, pp. 125-137). Annandale (Proc. Zool. Soc. London, 
1900, pp. 839-854, 2 text-figs.) gives an account of the habits of the 
flower-mimicing Hymenopus bicornts and of other Malayan species. 
Browne (J.B.N.H.S., XII, pp. 578-9) records the killing of a 
sunbird, Avachnechthra minima. by a large mantis, ‘‘ probably 
Hierodula bipapilla”’ An immature specimen of a large green 
mantis was recently sent to the Indian Museum by Mr. Matilal 
Ganguli, who had found it surrounded by six or seven sparrows 
that were attempting to kill it. When they tried to peck at it, 
it ran very fast towards the assailants, making darts at them 
which caused them to withdraw. ‘The struggle was still in pro- 
gress when the specimen was captured. 
The food of mantises, with an account of the gradual 
eating of the male of an American species by the female during 
and without interfering with copulation is described by Mosse 
(J.B.N.H.S., XX, pp. 878-9) and Coleman (j.B.N.H:S., XS 
pp. 1167-8). I have seen newly hatched young of a big green 
mantis feeding on minute Chloropid flies (Pachylophus adjacens, 
Brun., MS.) onabush of Zizyphus jujuba on the Calcutta maidan— 
a bush which always attracts these flies during the rains, when 
they sit about on its leaves in large numbers. 
Acridiidae. 
Alcock (J.4.S.B., LXV [II], pp.539-540; reprinted J7.B.N.H.S., 
XI, pp. 149-150) records the behaviour of a bear towards Aularches 
1 Concerning parthenogenesis in Phasmidae see also Hanitsch, ¥. Straits R. 
Asiatic Soc., July 1904, pp. 35-38 (Zurycnema herculanea). Fryer records poly- 
morphism in a Ceylon stick-insect (Fournal of Genetics, 111, pp. 107-111, pl. iil). 
2 Belonging apparently to the subfamily Lonchodinae. ‘The female is a very 
heavily built stick-insect, the male more moderately stout. 
