PHASMA (DIAPHERODES) GIGAS. 



Plate L. 



Order : Orthoptera. Section : Cursoria. Family : Phasmidse. 



Genus: Phasma, Fair. Mantis, -Dr«?T/. Subgenus: Diapherodes, Gray. Cyphocrana,, Serville. 

 Phasma (Diapherodes) Gigas. Aptera, capite thoraceque spinosis, hoc lateribus serratis, elytris brevissimis, 

 femoribus subtus angulatis. (Long. Corp. 7 unc. 9 lin.) 



Syn. Mantis gigas, Dnunj^ App. vol. 2. (1773.) (nee Fabr. Ent. Syst. Suppl. No. (i. Oliv. Encyl. Nu -2. 

 Serv. Rev. Orthopt. p. 33.) Gray Syn. Phamn.p. 33. (Diapherodes G.) 

 Mantis angula.a, Fahr. Ent. Syst. 2. 13. (1793.) 



Habitat; St. Vincent. 



General colour brown, but probably green when alive, becoming brown by the spirits in which 

 it was preserved. Antennae about three inches long, and composed of a great number of articulations 

 (not less than fifty) being thickest at their roots, from whence they diminish a little to their extremities. 

 Head oblong, with two short thick spines on the top, near the front. Eyes small, round, black, and 

 distant. Four palpi, each 4-jointed; that next the mouth being the shortest. Mouth appearing not 

 to be furnished with strong teeth or jaws, but seeming rather formed for macerating tender plants. Neck 

 and thorax having a great many short thick spines on them ; particularly the latter, which has a ridge on 

 each side, full of spines like the teeth of a saw, extending to the abdomen. " It is evident this species 

 is furnished with wings when arrived to its complete state, by the rudiments observable in this ; which, 

 though they are exceeding small, are a sufficient proof it is not wingless." Abdomen composed of seven 

 articulations ; the last being chvided into three smaller ones, from whence springs from the under part 

 an instrument that extends about half an inch beyond the tail, being shaped like a three-edged 

 sword ; each side being hollowed and grooved like that weapon. When first received, the abdomen 

 was considerably broader than it is now, being then nearly the breadth of a man's thumb ; but now is 

 contracted one-fourth, and in proportion every other part is less, except the head. The hind legs are 

 longer than the rest ; but are not formed, like the locust tribe, for leaping. The under part of the 

 thighs are furnished with short thick spines ; those on the hinder ones being the strongest, and most 

 conspicuous. The tips of the femora are furnished with two thick strong spines, which are placed on 

 each side the joint. The tibiae are short and thick. The tarsi consist of five articulations besides the 

 claws ; the bottom of each having a valve or sucker to it ; those placed between the hooks being con- 

 siderably larger than the others, by which the creature is enabled to climb up any thing perpendicularly 

 that has a smooth surface. 



END OF VOL. II. 



G. NORMANj PBItNTEB, MAlUii.N LASt, COVRNi GARDEN. 



