226 SPOLIA ZBYLANICA. 



ccestifer (J. A. S. Bengal, vol. LXVIL, pt. 2, 1898, p. 231) and M. 

 pugil {ibid.). 



I desire to express my thanks to Major Alcock for his kindness 

 in referring me to the above sources of information concerning 

 Melia. 



A. WILLEY, 



Colombo, January 28, 1906. 



8. Strididation of Gongylus gongylodes. — Daring a recent 

 visit (December) to Anuradhapura as I was descending the bund 

 of Tissa tank behind Isurumuniya, I espied a dark brown 

 Mantid upon a low green shrub, and upon bending closer found 

 that it was a male Gongylus. Its actions upon being alarmed by 

 my approach arrested my attention. Its colour and general 

 appearance were those of a brown shrivelled leaf, but it appeared 

 to be intent upon a foraging expedition with no idea of mimicry 

 or of any conformity to its surroundings. The under surface of 

 the flattened prothorax had a dull neutral tint paler in the centre, 

 but not glistening nor in any way attractive. Such mimicry and 

 protective coloration as carnivorous animals — of which Gongy- 

 lus is one — frequently exhibit appear to be closely correlated with 

 their infinite capacity for lying motionless in wait for passing 

 prey. 



As I drew near to the Mantid several times in succession, 

 on each occasion it dressed itself for the fray, squaring the elbows 

 of its forelimbs nearly at a right angle to the body as shown in 

 the upper figure of the second plate illustrating this species 

 in Spolia Zeylanica, part VIII. (vol. II.), 1905, page 198. The 

 alert defensive attitude which it assumed was evidently intended 

 to be terrifying in the sense in which this term has become fami- 

 liar to students of mimicry, and the terrifying effect was enhanced 

 by a loud rasping sound which it produced by rubbing the 

 borders of its hind femora against the rim of the forewings. 



The male is distinguished from the female by gx*eater slender- 

 ness and length of body and wings, by the smaller size of 

 the foliaceous expansions of prothorax and limbs, and above all 

 by the feathery antennae, these being hair-like in the female. 

 The outer free border of each forewing is thickened by a distinct 

 chitiuous rim which is finely serrate. In the region of the hind 

 femur, on each side, the border of the wing is slightly concave, 

 allowing free play to the thigh under ordinary circumstances. 

 The femur itself is smooth, carrying a few minute hairs but 

 without any rough edge. 



