THE PLATYCRANIA. 



313 



the young to escape when hatched. The larva of this insect is 

 quite as different from the perfect male or female, as they are 

 from each other, and bears a curiously close resemblance to the 

 Pkyllonemia paradoxa, which has been described on page 298. 

 It is a native of Australia. 



The very rare insect which is here shown is a native of Fiji. 

 There is only one specimen in the British Museum. It is about 

 four inches in length, the illustration being drawn half the size 

 of the real insect. 





Flo. 156. — Platynaiiia plielrius. 

 (Green.) 



The generic name Platycrania, or " wide-skulled," refers to 

 the shape of the head, which is rather broader than is generally 

 the case with the Phasmidas. The body is very smooth, and the 

 upper surface of the thorax rises into a bold longitudinal ridge. 

 As is often the case with these insects, the wings are more 

 beautiful than the body — that and the elytra being green, while 

 the gauzy wings are bright yellow. 



Several species of Platycrania inhabit India ; and there is an 

 eatable species, Platycrania cdulis, found in Ceram. 



