84 



This insect, according to Mr. Smeathraan, makes a clicking noise when it flies, like a 

 rocket, which may be heard at twenty yards distance. It is a very strong and rapacious 

 insect, and is often seen flying fi'om bush to bush with a grasshopper in its claws at least 

 twice its own size, and which is evidently destined to be deposited in its nest, and to 

 become the food of the future progeny of the Pepsis. 



" There is a species like this found in the West Indies, with orange antennae and black 

 legs ; also another that is entirely black." — Drury. 



MANTIS (THESPIS) PARVA. 



Plate XXXIX. fig. 5. 



Order: Orthoptera. Section: Cm-soria. Family: Mantidas. 



Genus. Mantis, Linn. Subgenus : Thespis, Serville. 



Mantis (Thespis) Parva. Pallide olivaceo-fusca, prothorace longo cylindrico, pedibus gracilibus simplieibus. 

 (Long. Corp. 1 unc. 4^ liii.) 



Syn. Mantis parva, D™n/, .4p/). to?. 2. Oliv. Encycl. No. ii. Serville Revis. Orthopt. p. -26. (Thespis p.) 

 Mantis minuta, Fabr. Ent. Syst. 2. 24. ? 



Habitat: America. 



When this insect was living it was probably of a light green colour ; but it is now entirely of a dusky 

 olive. Head small. Eyes round, and placed at a distance from each other. Antennae small, and 

 thread-like, and about half the length of the insect. Thorax long and slender. Tegmina thin, narrow, 

 and diaphanous, of the same length with the wings ; but narrower, and placed at a little distance from 

 them. Wings also thin and diaphanous, and when closed extending to the anus. Abdomen slender and 

 rounded. Legs small and long, the hinder ones being formed rather for running than jumping; the fore 

 ones having thread-like tarsi. 



PEPSIS RUBRA. 



Plate XXXIX. fig. 6. 



Order : Hymenoptera. Section : Fossores. Family : PompilidEe. 



Genus. Pepsis, Fabr. Latr. Spbex, Linn. Drury. 



Pepsis Rubra. Corpore pedibiisque nigro cyaneis, antennis nigris, alis rufis apice albis. (Long. Corp. I unc.) 



Syn. Sphex rubra, Drury, App. vol. 2. 



Pepsis speciosa, Fabr. Ent. Syst. 2. 217. 83. Syst. Pie:. 215. 45. Pal. Beauv.Ins. d'Afr. et d'Amei: 

 Hytn. PI. 2./. 5. 



Habitat: Antigua (i»ri»-!/;. Saint Domingo (Pa/. -B««/i!.). 



Head and antennae black ; it has four palpi, no tongue, but strong jaws. Ocelli distinct. Thorax, 

 abdomen, and all the legs deep mazarine blue, nearly black. Wings red; the tips being transparent. 

 Legs furnished with spines at the tips of the tibiae ; the fore ones having only one, all the rest two. 



Fabricius (Syst. Piez. 214. 33.) refers this figure to the Sphex coerulea of Linnaeus, which 

 differs in having the wings ferruginous but black at the base (" basi nigrse," Linn.) and 



