3 0-4 INSECTS ABROAD. 



length, and half an inch in thickness, so that the reader can 

 easily infer how large the insect itself must be. 



The generic name Eurycantha is Greek, and signifies " thick- 

 thorned " — a very appropriate title, inasmuch as the creature 

 is one of the thorniest of insects. It has thorns on either side 

 of the body, six on each segment, thorns on the upper part 

 of the thorax, and thorns all over its legs. Even when dead, 

 it is not pleasant to the touch, for one or other of the sharp 

 curved spikes is sure to scratch or to prick. When it is 

 alive its captor had better seize it with forceps, or at least 

 with thickly-gloved hands, for it is enormously powerful, 

 and has a way of driving its leg-prickles into the hand and 

 drawing blood. 



The specimen which is figured is a female. The male is 

 easily known by the shape of the hind legs, the thighs of which 

 are much thicker, shorter, and barrel-shaped. It is remarkable 

 that if one of the limbs be lost during the larval state, it is 

 replaced by another, which, however, never attains to the full 

 dimensions. After the insect has reached its perfect stage, any 

 such loss is irreparable. 



The egg of this species, which is a native of New Guinea and 

 the adjacent islands, is a large one — quite as large, indeed, as 

 that of one of the small humming-birds. It is oval, and gene- 

 rally dark green in colour, covered with granulations, so that 

 it resembles an emeu egg in miniature. Sometimes, however, 

 it is grey, mottled with brown, or entirely brown. 



Another species of this genus, Eurycantha Tyrrhcva, is a 

 native of the New Hebrides. It is much flatter than the pre- 

 ceding species, and has an aspect very much like that of a 

 scorpion. 



M. Montrouzier remarks that it swarms in marshy grounds 

 where the sago-palms grow. Yet, although it is so plentiful, 

 he could not succeed in keeping any of the insects alive, as they 

 all refused to eat, no matter what food he provided for them. 

 It is a dark-loving insect, always crouching into the shade 

 when set at liberty- and being found mostly hidden under the 

 parasitic vegetation that in that climate grows so thickly on the 

 trunks of old trees. He calls it by the name of Karabidion. 



For some time he thought that it was only the larval form of 



