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464 On a new Species of Stich-Insect. 



spines on the sides ; prothorax and mesothorax with numerous 

 large and small red spines, irregularly arranged ; abdomen 

 with the fifth segment carinated and concave at the extre- 

 mity above, and with a short carina on each side coalescing 

 with the terminal one, each preceded by a round black spot ; 

 front coxffi with two or three small spines; femora lobate 

 at the extremity, front femora straight, left front tibia with 

 a lobe on the upper carina at two thirds of its length ; first 

 joint of left tarsi also lamellate above; middle and hind 

 femora much curved, the middle tibige lamellate above and 

 below near the base ; tegulee brown, a large hump, longer 

 than broad and rounded at the summit, near the base. Wings 

 with the costal area reddish brown, black at the base; a grey 

 spot on the costa before the middle ; the membranous part of 

 the wings black, with numerous irregular waved and broken 

 bands and spots of dull testaceous yellow, which do not anas- 

 tomose, paler towards the inner curve of the margin, wliich 

 becomes smoky brown with subhyaline markings. 



millim. 



Long, corporis 223 



„ capitis 9 



„ pronoti 12 



„ mesonoti 35 



„ metanoti 31 



„ spgmenti mediani 19 



„ tegminum 30 



Exp. al 232 



Long. fem. ant 73 



„ „ med 50 



„ „ post 64 



This splendid species is the largest winged African Phasmide 

 yet discovered, being nearly 9 inches long and more than 

 9 inches in expanse of wing. It greatly resembles the 

 well-known Palojhus centaurus, Westwood, which also 

 exhibits a similar structure at the extremity of the fifth 

 segment of the abdomen ; but the shape of the crest, the 

 spiny head and thorax, and the much longer wings are amply 

 sufficient to distinguish it. 



Mrs. Moir has communicated the following account of the 

 capture in a letter to Miss E. M. Sharpe : — " I found it 

 myself one morning hanging on to the clothes-ropes, when 

 going to hang out something to dry, and only on its refusing 

 to be shaken off did 1 find out it was alive. Mr. Moir 

 injected carbolic, with a view to preserving it better, and only 

 then did it put out its wings." 



The stick-like appearance and sluggish habits of these 

 insects are quite sufficient to account for their being rarely 

 noticed, in spite of their large size and conspicuous appear- 

 ance when the wings are expanded. 



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