264 Prof. J. Wood-Mason on the presence 



the marginal nervure, wliicli, as we have seen, is also 

 deflexed, comes to be directed nearly ' edge-on ' towards 

 the sides of the insect's body. 



In Hierodula simulacrum it is perfectly unmodified, but 

 in certain other species of the same genus* and in all the 

 Empusida the lamellar fore margin of the tegmina, now 

 bent down at right angles to the marginal field, is, in 

 males and females alike, converted along a greater or 

 lesser portion of its length into highly indurated, erect, 

 and hard-, smooth-, and blunt-pointed teeth, which are 

 most highly developed in that part which, in the closed 

 organs of flight, is presented ' edge-on ' to the abdomen. 



Fiff. 2. 



Fig. 2. Hierodula {Sphodromantis) gasfrica,f Stal, J . A portion of 

 the fore margin of the left tegmen, viewed from in front so as 

 to show the deflexed and toothed lamellar expansion of the mar- 

 ginal nervure. The arrow is supposed to be pointing in the direc- 

 tion of the apex of the wing, towards which, also, the minute setce, 

 inserted, one on the apical side of each tooth, are all directed. 

 Drawn to scale under a Ross's 3-in. objective. Letters as before. 



I have carefully examined a number of insects taken at 

 random ( Corydalis, Pneumora, $ , many Dragon-flies, &c. ), 

 and I find that, whenever the fore margin of the tegmina 

 is serrated or prickly, the points of the serratures or 

 prickles are all invariably sharp and directed towards the 

 apex of the organs, just as in a blade of grass, Avhicli, as 

 everybody knows, can easily be draAvn through the hand 

 in one direction, but in the other offers a resistance that 



* Hierodula {S^yhodromajitls) gastrica, from Damara Land ; H. 

 (SpJiodroj)oda) dentifrons, from Australia; H. {Bhovthodera) lat'unllis, 

 from Java and Amboina; H. (-ff.) atricoxis and H. (M.) pitstnli/era, 

 from an island in Torres Straits, &c. 



f When I received this specimen from my late correspondent, Professor 

 Stal, the teeth were all but entirely hidden by a tenacious incrustation, 

 their smooth, polished (and worn ?), and brown-coloured tips being alone 

 Tisible. 



