'PHASMA. 123 



appearance of many of its species this genus is at 

 least equal to the preceding. 



The most remarkable is the Phasma Gigas or 

 Giant Phasma. (Mantis Gigas. Lin.) This in- 

 sect measures six or eight inches in length, and is 

 of a very lengthened shape both in thorax and 

 abdomen, which are of a subcylindric form, the 

 thorax being roughened on the edges and upper 

 surface by numerous small spines or tubercles: the 

 upper wings are small, green, and veined like the 

 leaves of a plant, while the lower are very ample, 

 reaching half the length of the body or farther, of 

 a very pale transparent brown, elegantly varied 

 and tesselated by darker spots and patches: the 

 legs are of moderate length, with the joints 

 roughened by spines. The larva and pupa of this 

 species bear a more singular appearance than 

 even the complete insect, greatly resembling, on 

 a general view, a piece of dry stick with several 

 small broken twigs adhering to it : for this reason 

 it has been generally known in collections by the 

 name of the Walking Stick, and under this title is 

 figured in Eclwards's Gleanings of Natural His- 

 tory, and many other publications. It is however 

 probable that though of a pale brown in its dry 

 state, it is in reality green when living; the natural 

 colour fading after death, as in many others of 

 this tribe. It is a native of the island of Amboina. 

 It may be added, that this insect either runs into 

 several varieties as to size and some other parti- 

 culars, or that there exist in reality many distinct 

 species, which have been confounded under one 



