THECLA THRIPS. 



ing the leaves, the mode of curing, or from the district 

 whence they are brought. The earlier in the spring 

 the first leaves are gathered the richer the quality, 

 and the more valuable the article, whether cured green 

 or black. The tea grown on the sloping side of a hill 

 is superior to that gathered from the summit, and both 

 these are superior to that produced in the rich valley; 

 hence several sorts may be sent to market by the 

 same grower. The different descriptions of teas, how- 

 ever, are the produce of different districts, one being 

 famed for black, another for green teas ; and it has 

 been affirmed that all the various sorts are gathered 

 from the same species of the genus ; this circum- 

 stance, however, still remains undetermined. 



THECLA (Fabricius). A genus of small butter- 

 flies, belonging to the family Lycoenidce (whicVsee), 

 known to collectors under the names of hair-streaks, 

 from the slender lines of white colour with which the 

 under surface of the wings are in general ornamented. 

 The caterpillars are very much like wood-lice, and 

 hence are called onisciform larvae. There are five or 

 six British species, the handsomest of which is the 

 purple hair-streak (Thecla quercus), which flies about 

 the highest branches of the oaks, upon which the cater- 

 pillar also feeds. 



THELPHIISA (Latreille). A genus of crabs 

 belonging to the family Canceridce, having the carapax 

 or shell of a cordate-truncate form, the tarsi furnished 

 with spinous warts or dentated, the lateral antenna 1 

 composed of very few joints. Several species of this 

 genus of crabs are known, all of which, contrary to 

 the usual habit of the tribe, reside in fresh water, 

 having even the power to remain for a considerable 

 period out of the water. The T.fluviatilis was well 

 known to the ancients ; it is very common in Italy, 

 being found in lakes and streams ; it is also often 

 found to be represented upon antique Greek medals. 

 It is about two inches in diameter, and of a grey or 

 buffish hue, differing when dead, very smooth above, 

 except at the sides, which are covered with small 

 transverse impressions. It is eaten by Greek monks, 

 and forms, during Lent, one of the Italian fast dishes. 

 Another species, T. Indica, was discovered on the 

 coast of Coromandel, where it is called by the inha- 

 bitants Tillc Naudon ; and Colonel Sykes has given 

 an account of another species, T. cunicularis, which 

 he discovered in the Deccan or Dukhun as he writes 

 the name. It is called Kenkra by the Mahrattas, and 

 abounds along the Ghats. Their burrows are found 

 in all the valleys, and on the most elevated table 

 lands, from 2000 to 5000 feet above the level of the 

 sea. In the abundant rains of the south-west mon- 

 soon, they are seen in a state of great activity run- 

 ning over the surface, and frequenting the public 

 roads in such numbers that instances are constantly 

 occurring of their being crushed under the feet of 

 horses and cattle, those of foot passengers, or the 

 wheels of vehicles. During the months of extreme 

 dryness, December, January, and February, they are 

 rarely seen out of their holes. As they are met with 

 of all sizes, it is probable that the reproductive pro- 

 cess takes place without having recourse to migration 

 to the seashore, as is related of some species of land 

 crabs. Indeed nothing of the kind had been even 

 observed by Colonel Sykes, or his friends and native 

 servants. The celerity and ease with which the two 

 fore claws are used make them efficient substitutes 

 for hands, and its rapid lateral movements at pleasure 

 to either side, as objects attracted its attention, were 



very efficacious in enabling it to capture its prey, 

 which appeared to consist of insects and animal mat- 

 ters of various kinds. This observation of Colonel 

 Sykes (Trans. Ent. Soc. vol. i. p. 183) appears to 

 have more weight, judging from the habits of the 

 crabs in general, than the statement of Bishop Heber 

 relative to the supposed food of these animals. " All 

 the grass through the Deccan," observes this writer, 

 " generally swarms with a small land crab, which 

 burrows in the ground, and runs with considerable 

 swiftness, even when encumbered with a bundle of 

 food as big as itself ; this food is grass or the green 

 stalks of rice, and it is amusing to see the crabs sit- 

 ting, as it were, upright to cut their hay with their 

 sharp pincers, then waddling off with their sheaf to 

 their holes as quickly as their sidelong pace will 

 carry them." 



THEOBROMA (LinnaBus). A genus of South 

 American trees, two of which are cultivated for the 

 fruit, which, when manufactured, is the favourite re- 

 past chocolate. The flowers are polyadelphous, and 

 the genus belongs to Byttncriacece. In our stoves 

 they are grown in light compost, and are readily 

 propagated by cuttings. 



THEOPHRASTA(Linna3us). A genus of highly 

 ornamental shrubs or small trees, having pentandrous 

 flowers, and belonging to Apocynece. Natives of 

 Hispaniola, they require the warmest part of our 

 stoves, and may be increased by cuttings rooted in 

 sand. 



THEREVA (Latreille). A genus of dipterous 

 insects, placed' by Leach in the family Mydasidce, but 

 by Latreille in that of Leplides, having the wings not 

 folded upon the body when at rest, and exhibiting 

 many complete cells. The palpi are received, when 

 at rest, in the oral cavity, and the antennae terminate 

 in a spindle-shaped mass, with a small articulated 

 style at the tip. There are ten British species, the 

 type being the Bibio jjlebeia of Fabricius. Some of 

 the species are very common, being found in open 

 parts of woods. 



THLASPI (Dillenius). A genus of European 

 weeds, called Shepherd's Purse ; they belong to 

 Cruciferce, and are found everywhere. 



THOMASIA (Gay). A genus of New Holland 

 shrubs belonging to the fifth class of Linnaeus, and to 

 the order Byttncriaccce of Jussieu. The genus was 

 formerly called Lasiopcfa/um, and is best known in 

 greenhouse collections by the old name. 



THRIPS (Linnaeus). A genus of minute but 

 very curious insects, placed by Linnaeus in the order 

 Hemiptcra, by Latreille in the Homoptera, but recently 

 separated by Mr. Halliday as a distinct order under 

 the name of Thysanoptera. The body is long, narrow, 

 and sub-depressed, resembling that of a Staphylmus ; 

 the antennae short and composed of eight joints, the 

 terminal joint being unarmed by a seta ; the four 

 wings are of equal size and form, long and linear, 

 deeply fringed with hairs on all sides, and laid hori- 

 zontally upon the back ; the tarsi are short and ter- 

 minated by a vesicle instead of the ordinary ungues ; 

 the rostrum is described by Latreille as being small 

 or scarcely distinct, but the mouth is not rostrate 

 strictly speaking, but armed with mandibles and pal- 

 pigerous maxilla:, and thus entirely differing from the 

 other haustellated insects. 



These insects are of exceedingly minute size, few- 

 exceeding a line (one-twelfth of an inch) in length ; 

 they are very active, seeming to leap rather than fly 



