XIII 



HYPERTELY 



323 



^^ 



Fig. 199. Myrviecophana 

 fallax. 



and proposed the term Hypertely to express the idea that in 

 these cases the bounds of the useful are transcended. We 

 will mention here another peculiar case 

 of resemblance described by Brunner as 

 occurring in a Locustid. Two specimens 

 of a little Phaneropterid were brought 

 from the Soudan by the Antinori ex- 

 pedition, and have been described by 

 Brunner under the name of Myrmeco- 

 phana fallax. The Insect is said to 

 bear an extraordinary resemblance to 

 an ant. The most peculiar feature in 

 the resemblance is shown in Fig. 199, 

 A, B. The most characteristic point in 

 the external form of an ant is the stalked 

 abdomen, this structure being at the 

 same time quite foreign to the Orthoptera. 

 In the other parts of the body and in 

 the colour generally, the Myrmecophana 

 resembles an ant, but the abdomen of 



the Orthopteron is not stalked ; it has, however, the appearance 

 of being so, in consequence of certain parts being of a w^hite 

 colour, as shown in our figure. If abstraction be made of the 

 white parts, the form of the stalked abdomen of the ant is nicely 

 reproduced. The specimens brought from the Soudan were wing- 

 less and destitute of ovipositor, and may be immature, but Brunner 

 suggests that they may prove to be really mature, the ovipositor, 

 tegmina, and wings being permanently absent. The existence 

 of a long ovipositor would certainly detract greatly from the ant- 

 like appearance of the Orthopteron. 



It is certain that the plant-like appearance of some of the 

 Locustidae renders them inconspicuous to the human eye in the 

 situations they frequent. It is a matter of common observation 

 that though the noise of their chirpings may be heard to such an 

 extent as to make it certain that many individuals must be in the 

 immediate neighbourhood, yet at the same time it may be most 

 difticult to detect even a single individual. M. Boutan noticed 

 this phenomenon in the case of JiJphippigera rugosicollis, and 

 tells us that the human eye can, with a little practice, acquire 

 the art of detecting these concealed creatures. This consists 



