ORTHOPTERA. — INIANTIDiE. 429 



JDescript. de VEgypte, PI. Orthopt., copied in Regne An. edit. Cro- 

 chard. Ins. pi. 10. f. 10. ; and De Geer, vol. iii. pi. 36. f. 8.) 



These insects are rather numerous in respect to species, being also 

 generally of a large size : they are ordinarily handsomely ornamented 

 in their colours, although green or grey are their prevailing tints*, 

 corresponding with the situations in which they are found. They 

 are distributed throughout the tropical regions of the world, but do 

 not reach a more northern latitude than the middle of France 

 M. Savigny, and, more recently, M. Al. Lefcbvre, have figured some 

 singular species (Eremiaphila Lefebvre), which inhabit the desert 

 sandy plains of Egypt, where insects are but rarely found : their 

 movements are very slow, and their colour resembles that of the sand 

 vipon which they are found. 



I have received, both from Dr. Klug and M. V. Audouin, specimens 

 of several species of Chalcidideous parasites, obtained by them from 

 the eggs of Mauritian and Brazilian species of Mantidae. These 

 species appear to belong to a genus closely allied to Palmon of 

 Dalman. It is probable that the eggs of the parasite are deposited 

 before the glutinous covering has acquired its consistency. An 

 anonymous writer in the Entomol. Magazine (vol. iii. p. 178.) has 

 also noticed the occurrence of other Chalcidideous parasites in the 

 eggs of Mantis religiosa, found by him in Ccphalonia. 



These insects were for a long time united with the Phasmida? in 

 the same genus. Lichtenstein, however, first systematically divided 

 them, in the Linn. Trans. \o]. vi. ; although Stoll had previously pointed 

 out their distinction ; the diversity of their habits being sufficient to 

 warrant their separation into distinct families. They were retained 

 by Latreille vmder the single genus Mantis; those with pectinated 

 antenna? (Empusa ///.) forming a section. M. Serville, however, 

 divided them into eleven genera in \\\i Revue 3Ivthodiqi(e ; and M. 

 Al. Lefebvre has added two others in his memoir on Erimiaphila, 

 noticed above. Of these genera, Heteronytarsus Lefeb. is remark- 

 able in having only four joints in the two anterior, three joints in 

 the four posterior, tarsi. In Empusa, the head is produced above into 

 a long leaf-like appendage ; the four posterior thighs are furnished 



* In the saiul-colourcd Eremia])hil;u, the under side of the wing-covers is orna- 

 mented with a brilliant metallic-coloured spot ; but in my genus ]Metallyticiis the 

 entire insect is of a splendid metallic golden green, varying to copper, and whilst 

 some specimens arc brilliant clialybeous. 



