1 26 Captain C. E. Williams' Notca on 



in no other species has the modification of the tribal type 

 taken precisely the same lines as in Gongylus. 



The prothorax is elongated into a narrow stalk, leading 

 to a somewhat diamond-shaped or disc-like expansion at 

 the insertion of the front pair of limbs (raptorial limbs). 

 This disc is coloured on its ventral aspect a brilliant azure- 

 blue, the angles and margins of which may be more or less 

 tipped with a warm purple hue. In the centre of this disc 

 is a deeply pigmented black spot triangular in shape. 

 Closely correlated with this colouring and formation is the 

 attitude adopted by the insect. When at rest and feeding 

 it hangs head downward, the ventral surface of the thorax 

 and prothorax being turned skywards and the dorsal 

 surface towards the ground. The azure-coloured disc is 

 thus turned towards the brightest part of the sky, or 

 preferably towards the blazing sun all through the hours 

 of daylight, and this part of the insect assumes the appear- 

 ance of a blue flower, by which other insects, the prey of 

 the Mantis, are attracted to it ; this deceptive effect is 

 enhanced by the stalk-like elongation of the prothorax, by 

 the black central spot, which it has been suggested mimics 

 the opening of the tube of a corolla, and by the gently 

 swaying movements of the insect from side to side, as if it 

 were a blossom agitated by the breeze. The dorsal aspect 

 of the prothorax, and the dorsal surface of the insect 

 generally, and all other parts of the ventral surface, except 

 the prothoracic disc, are varied in colour, and marked by 

 bands of black pigment on a ground of liglit or dark 

 brown, and here and there by green markings, and this 

 more sober colouring is adapted to conceal the Mantis both 

 from its prey and from its possible enemies. 



The female, on passing to the winged stage, develops a 

 relatively small pair of wings and of tegmina. The former 

 are too small for flight, and the tegmina, which do not 

 reach so far as the posterior end of the abdomen, are 

 gieatly modified to resemble dead and shrivelled leaves. 

 The female is therefore to all intents and purposes 

 wingless. 



The adult male on the other hand is more slenderly 

 built, and has large wings adapted for powerful flight. 

 The wings and tegmina both reach some distance behind 

 the posterior end of the abdomen, and they are handsomely 

 ornamented by oblique black lines, not unlike the marking 

 on the tegmina of some species of Harpagides. The adult 



