On the Begenerative Surfaces in the Phasmidae. 117 



XV. — On the Localization of the Regenerative Surfaces in 

 the Phasmidse. By Edmond Bokdage *. 



After a series of experiments I have succeeded in ascer- 

 taining that the regeneration of limbs in Phasmids, in con- 

 sequence of artificial amputation, only took place when the 

 amputation had been performed in the region comprising the 

 tarsus and the lower third of the tibia f ; so that the only 

 possible localities for the phenomena of regeneration were the 

 region indicated and the surface of section corresponding to 

 the line of fusion between the trochanter and femur, which 

 was laid bare after autotomy. If there had been mutilations 

 in the shape of amputations performed at different levels, the 

 regenerative power would have manifested itself throughout 

 the entire length of the limb, and would ceitainly have 

 resulted in the reproduction of the whole of the missing 

 portion, at whatever point these amputations had taken place. 

 I was therefore led to seek for the reason of such special 

 localizations as these, and I have studied the manner in 

 which the principal vertebrate enemies of Monandroptera and 

 Ehaphiderus attack these insects and lay hold of them. 



Birds, as I have been able to assure myself, are ill adapted 

 to provoke autotomy or to mutilate the lower region of the 

 limbs. They kill the insects immediately by dealing them 

 repeated blows with their beaks. I have noticed this fact 

 especially in connexion with the common myna (Acridotheres 

 tristis), the great destroyer, par excellence, of grasshoppers 

 and Phasmids. 



Lizards have yielded me more interesting results. I have 

 observed the mode of procedure of the " bloodsucker " 

 (Calotes versicolor) in order to seize a Phasmid. The Ortho- 

 pteron supports itself on its long bent legs, its body balanced 

 in the strangest manner while walking, and even during 

 repose, if the least breath of air makes itself felt. The abdo- 

 men is raised and bent back in a semicircle, an attitude which 

 is especially remarkable in the young larva?. It most 

 frequently happens that the lizard, darting at the insect, 

 seizes it by the abdomen or by the thorax and devours it 



* Translated by E. E. Austen from the ' Coruples Rendus Hebdo- 



madaires des Seances de la Soci^te" de Biologie,' t. v. no 28, 5aout, 1898, 



pp. 837-839 : from a separate impression communicated by the Author, 



Of. Arm. & Mag. Nat. Hist. ser. t>, vol. xx. (1897J pp. 473, 476, and 507. 



' f Tide Bull, de la Sue. entomol. de France, trance du 13 juillet, lb98, 



