( li ) 
some orchid. This was brought about by a very unnatural 
(and one would think extremely uncomfortable) arrangement 
of the legs. The head and thorax were raised, with fore-legs 
tucked up under the head as usual; abdomen turned upwards 
and end curving over, and immediately under it the left hind¬ 
leg, turned over so as to fully exhibit the flat lateral expansion 
of the femur. On looking down upon the insect the left 
middle-leg appeared under the head and rather to the left, the 
right middle-leg immediately under the head, and the right 
hind-leg a little to the right corresponding to the position of 
the left middle-leg. Each of these three was so turned in 
order to give full effect to the petal-like effect of the lateral 
femoral processes. 
“I have set the insect so as to show this curious position, 
the particular specimen being kept for twenty-three days in a 
flower-pot in company with Lepidopterous larvae which were 
feeding on some low plant. I have heard of another example 
which was kept in a glass jar for three weeks in this country 
without giving it any possible food. 
“ This comparative longevity and tenacity of life, together 
Avith its sluggish habits, ha\'e made it necessary to produce 
this wonderful protective deAuce in order to escape the 
numerous enemies of Mantidae." 
Commenting on this exhibit, Mr. Meade-Waldo said that 
the insect sent was in the larval state. Wood-Mason (Proc. 
Ent. Soc. Lond., 1877, p. xxix), mentions the extraordinai’y 
likeness of the larval II. hicornis to blossoms, and describes 
the attitude. He had received tAvo larvae from Assam, the 
smaller of Avhich was rose-pink, and the larger one white, 
evidently similar to the specimen now exhibited. 
At that time the insect AA^as only known from JaA'a. There 
are also specimens in the British Museum from the Khasi 
Hills, Malacca and Selangor. Evidence has been brought to 
prove that insects are attracted to the coloui-ed Mantidae as 
they are to floAvers, and according to A. Pv,. Wallace, Avho sup¬ 
plied the evidence required, a small Mantis, exactly resembling 
a pink Orchis-flower, was shoAvn to Sir Charles Dilke in Java. 
This species not only attracted insects, but the kinds of insects 
(Butterflies) which it allures and deA'ours Avere mentioned. 
D 2 
