A GIGANTIC OVIPOSITOR. 327 



The elytra are exactly like withered leaves, even to their 

 nervures, and are curiously shaped, each of them having a very 

 deep notch near the inner angle. On each of the elytra are 

 three round spots of a greyish hue, just like the fungus-marks 

 that are so common on decaying leaves. The wings are very 

 dark, except a broad band round their edges, in which the 

 colour is almost exactly the same as that of the elytra. When 

 spread, the wings do not lie flat, but are crumpled in a most 

 singular manner towards their bases. The jaws are enormously 

 powerful, and being tipped with shining black, they have a 

 very formidable appearance. 



There are several allied insects which deserve a short notice. 

 One is Megalodon ensifer, a native of Hindostan. It derives its 

 iTeneric name of Megalodon, i.e. "large-toothed," from the enor- 

 mous comparative size of its jaws, in which respect it rivals 

 ihe insect which has just been described. The specific name 

 ensifer is Latin, and signifies " a sword-bearer." It is given 

 to the insect on account of the gigantic size of the ovipositor, 

 which is so long that it cannot be carried after the usual 

 fashion, but takes a sudden turn upwards close to the abdomen. 

 It is very wide as well as long, so that the female of this 

 insect is very conspicuous. Along the back are three tufts of 

 spikes, similar to that on the thorax of the Sanaa imperialis. 



Another species, Storniza pallicornis, of Bogota, is bright 

 green in colour, and in shape very much resembles the common 

 spider-crab, even to the shape of the head, which is produced 

 into a sharp point. The spikiest of them all, however, is 

 Panacanthus varius, of Quito. This very remarkable insect 

 fully deserves its name of Panacanthus, which is formed from two 

 Greek words, and signifies something that is all thorns. The 

 last of these remarkable insects which will be here mentioned is 

 Copiophora cvspidata, of Brazil. Just as the Storniza resembles 

 a spider-crab in shape, so does the Copiophora resemble a shrimp, 

 and, so close is the likeness, that at the fir?t glance at the drawer 

 in which it is preserved it is hardly possible to avoid the idea 

 that a shrimp has by accident been placed among the insects. 



The illustration on the next page represents the male Pterochroza 

 ocellata. The female differs little from the male, except that her 

 body is shorter and thicker, and at the end of the abdomen there 



