THE PEROPLATYS. 297 



is opaque yellow, like that of the wing. The " eye " itself is 

 composed of a black central spot, round which is a. ring of 

 yellow, then an interrupted circle of black, and then an outer 

 ring of green. The end of the elytron is translucent. 



When the insect sits with its wings closed, these eyes have a 

 very curious effect. The right elytron passes almost but not 

 entirely over the left, so that the eye of the right elytron comes 

 exactly in the middle of the back, the edge of the corresponding 

 eye of the left elytron just showing beneath it. There is much 

 variation in the eyes, in size, colour, and arrangement, 



The generic name Harpax is Greek, and signifies "a robber," 

 in allusion to the predacious character of the insect; while the 

 specific name occllaria, or " eyed," refers to the eye-like marks of 

 the elytra. There are several other species of Harpax, one of the 

 prettiest of which is Harpax tricolor. In this insect the elytra 

 are green, and the translucent wings are green at the edge, and 

 are crossed by a ruddy chestnut stripe followed by a pink band. 



On Plate V. Fig. 3 is a most singular insect, called bcroplatys 

 dcsiccata. The former of these two words is Greek, and signifies 

 " broad-backed ; " while the latter signifies something that is 

 dried up, in allusion to the general appearance of the insect, 

 which looks very much like a ragged dry leaf. 



The eyes of this insect are black and very prominent, and 

 have rather a fierce appearance. The fore-legs, too, are decidedly 

 formidable, not only being large and powerful, but armed with 

 long, sharp, black teeth. The middle and hind pair of legs are 

 very slight in proportion to the rest of the insect, and at the end 

 of the thighs have a flattened, axe-shaped projection. 



The thorax has a most singular aspect. In the middle it 

 rises to a rather sharp ridge, and is then suddenly flattened and 

 rounded, on either side. Towards the base, it is cut into a 

 very deep and bold tooth, something like the barb of a spear, 

 and then is finely notched like the edge of a rose-leaf. Several 

 of the segments of the abdomen are flattened and drawn out 

 on either side into tooth-like projections. 



Both the elytra and wings are ample, and, as is often the case 

 with these insects, are more beautiful on the lower than on the 

 upper surface. The wings have in their centre a very large 

 patch of dark, shining brown, next to which comes a border of 



