226 SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 



B. PETIVERIANA. 

 PLATE VII. Fig. 2. 



Linn. Fair. Blatta heteroclita, Pallas, Spec. Zool. StoIF 

 Blattes, PL 5. d. figs. 21, 22. Cimici affinis niger. Petiv 

 Gazop. PI. 71, fig. 1. 



It is about ten or eleven lines in length, and of 

 dull black colour ; antennae about half the length o 

 the body. The tegmina, when closed, overlap eac 

 other, and the upper one has four large spots of yel- 

 lowish white, three placed longitudinally along th 

 exterior border, the fourth smaller, and situate nea 

 the middle of the inner margin. The other win 

 case has only the three exterior spots, the central 

 portion of the inner margin being of a fine reddish- 

 yellow. The wings are very short, and seem scar- 

 cely fitted for flight. The abdomen above is rather 

 wider than long; the colour black, with a 

 triangular fulvous spot at the side of each segmen 

 and two small lateral appendages behind. Unde 

 side and legs black. 



This insect, which is a native of the West Indies, 

 was first figured by Petiver, one of our oldest Br 

 tish Naturalists, after whom it has been named. 



FAM. MANTIDJE, 

 This curious and interesting group will be easi 

 recognised by the following summary of its mo 

 characteristic features, v The head is long, triangula 

 and vertical, furnished with large eyes, (sometmi 

 having a triangular prolongation in front,) and th 



three 



