PLATE XVII. 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF TWO ROSTRATED LOCUSTID. 
———e— 
Tue insects represented in the opposite plate exhibit a singular 
departure from the ordinary form of the Locusts, in the front of the 
head being produced into a long rostrum somewhat like that of the 
typical Fulgoree. Amongst the grasshoppers with long antenne there 
is a genus, Copiophora, in which the head is elevated into an erect 
and pointed horn, and in Mesops and Proscopia, two genera of 
Locusts, we find an approximation to these two insects. 
Notwithstanding the great elongation of the head in front of the 
eyes, I refer the unique insect represented in the upper figure to 
the genus Opsomala of Serville rather than to his genus Mesops, 
because the antennz are inserted near the eyes, whereas in the 
latter genus (which has much more the habit of Truxalis) the eyes 
are “ placés assez loin des antennes,” and because the same organs 
are not ensiform, thus assigning the msect to Serville’s second divi- 
sion of Opsomala with the “antennes composées @’articles peu aplatis 
et point élargis.” 
OPSOMALA GLADIATOR, Westw. (Pl. 17, fig. 1). 
Luteo-fusca, virescente parum tincta, capite antice in rostrum (prothorace duplo longius) pro- 
ducto, antennis rostro brevioribus gracilibus, alis hyalinis vix incoloratis, abdomine 
longissimo, pedibus 4 anticis brevissimis. 
Long. corp. (rostro incl.) unc. 34; long capitis unc. 1, ante oculos unc. 3, Expans. tegm. 
unc. 34. 
Habitat Sierram Leonam. In Mus, D. Hope. 
This is a giant in the genus Opsomala, being nearly twice as long as the largest described 
species. It is entirely of a luteous brown colour, slightly varied with darker brown, with a paler 
oblong patch on each side of the upper surface of the prothcrax. The head is produced into 
a rostrum nearly three-fourths of an inch long, its upper surface being nearly continuous with 
the disk of the head, and gradually narrowed from the eyes to the tip; the upper surface flat 
along the middle, but with the sides towards the eyes deflexed ; the under surface of the 
rostrum forms a very sharp edge, and is slightly curved, the tip being obliquely truncate. 
The eyes are oval and slightly elevated; the antennx are placed at the base of the lateral 
channel which extends from the base to the apex at the sides of the rostrum ; they are slender, 
filiform, and not so long as the rostrum. The prothorax is slightly rugose, with the dorsal 
carina scarcely elevated, and with three transverse very slight impressed lines across the middle 
of the back. The tegmina are narrow, not so long as the abdomen, with the apex almost 
rounded ; they are of a pale ]uteous-brown colour, with the veins varied with darker brown ; 
the wings are almost colourless ; the middle of many of the cells is, however, rather clouded 
with a tinge of pale brown. The abdomen is very compressed and shining, with the anal ap- 
pendages whitish. The four fore legs are very short, and the hind pair are scarcely longer 
than the abdomen; the femora terminating on the outside in an elongated spine. The pro- 
sternum is armed with a short spine, and the meso- and metasternums are broad. 
NO. V.—l1st JANUARY, 1842. E 
