322 



INSECTS ABKi>AI>. 



mythology, who guarded the gates of the infernal regions, and 

 prevented the imprisoned souls from escaping. 



There are several allied Bpecies, the must remarkable of which 

 is Phceophilacris funesta, of Sierra Leone. This insect looks 

 wonderfully like a huge spider, its legs being very long and 

 slender, and its body short, stout, and rounded. 



The strange-looking insect shown in the accompanying illus- 

 tration is a tolerably common one, and is found throughout the 



Pio. 161. — Callimenus onisous. 

 (Green ; red abdomen, spotted with black.) 



warmer parts of Europe, Greece and Turkey seeming to be 

 favoured localities for it. There are several species belonging 

 to this genus, of which the present is the largest that is 

 known. 



All the insects of' this genus are strange, awkward, ungainly- 

 looking beings, having rather the appearance of larvae or pupae 

 than of perfect insects. The name oniscus, which signifies "a 

 wood-louse," is given to the insect in consequence of its extra- 

 ordinary shape. ( renerally, among Orthoptera, even if the females 



