442 Proceedings of the Royal Physical Society. 



stem was very small indeed. The stick-insect remained 

 absolutely still while the grass was broken off. Winged 

 Phasmids occasionally take up this position wlien disturbed; 

 but as a rule they prefer to run away, or, if they are seated 

 on a plant, to drop to the ground or take to flight. 



A Flower-like Beetle Larva (apparently one of the 

 Endomychidse ^). 



Appearance. — The largest specimens were less than a 

 quarter of an inch in length. The head is small, and the 

 body flat and broad, somewhat bug-like in shape. A series 

 of lateral projections runs along each side. In life the 

 insect was completely concealed beneath a number of white 

 filaments, apparently of a waxy nature, which rose from 

 minute papillae on the dorsal surface. They were rigid, very 

 brittle and fragile, more so even than like structures on 

 certain of the Homoptera. Most of them were about an 

 eighth of an inch in length, but near the middle of the 

 abdomen there were generally two which were at least 

 twice as long as the others. These filaments stood upright, 

 at right angles to the main axis of the insect's body. The 

 legs were slender and short, but they were evidently well 

 adapted for running. Seen in profile, the larva bore a 

 ludicrous resemblance to a miniature hedgehog, an animal 

 which was also suggested by its gait. 



Hahits. — The larva is common in Patalung and in Nawn- 

 chik. (My observations were made in April at Ban Kong 

 Eah, a village in the hill country of Patalung, and con- 

 firmed later on Bukit Besar.) During the heat of the day 

 it is extremely active, running about on the leaves of a 

 Zingiberaceous plant which grows near the edge of the 

 jungle and reaches the height of from four to six feet, and 

 from which the larva probably obtains its food. At this 

 time the insect bears a strong likeness to a small white 



^ Very little is known about the larvae of this family, most of which are 

 exotic; but my specimens resemble the larva of the British species, as figured 

 by Westwood, closely. The latter are found in a web-like structure, which 

 may be the dorsal filaments of this Malayan species. 



