460 CLASS VIII. 



6) Feet winged or foliaceous. 



Sub-genera: Tropidoderus GRAY, Ectatosoma GRAY, Prisopus 

 SERV., GRAY. 



Sp. Prisopus fldbelliformis GRAY, Phasma dracunculus LICHTENST., STOLL, 

 Spectr. PL 18, fig. 65, from Surinam. Prisop. HorstoUi DE HAAN, 1. 1. 

 Tab. 1 2, fig. i ; hab. Cape of Good Hope. In the shorter body and entire 

 habit they somewhat approach the genus Phyllium. 



Phyllium ILLIG. (species of genus Mantis L. and FABR., species 

 of Phasma LICHTENST.) Abdomen oval, depressed. Prothorax 

 scarcely longer than mesothorax, sub-triangular, posteriorly nar- 

 rower. Antennae of males setaceous, pilose ; of females very short, 

 filiform. Elytra short and wings long in males ; in females elytra 

 large, membranous covering abdomen, wings very small. Thighs 

 dilated, alate. 



Sp. Phyllium siccifolium, Mantis siccifolia L., FABR., ECES., Iiis. n. Loc. 

 ind. Tab. xvu. .4, 5 ; STOLL, Spectr. PI. vir. f. 24, 26 ; DUMER. Cons, 

 gen. s. 1. Ins. PI. 23, fig. 2 fern. &c. ; the walking -leaf. This species is 

 extended from the Sechelles over Java and Timor to New-Guinea. Some 

 allied species are from the same regions and from China ; none are known 

 from the new world. 



Phalanx II. Mantides. Anterior feet raptorial, with coxas long 

 and femora compressed, receiving the tibia beneath. Prothorax not 

 shorter than mesothorax, mostly exceeding the mesothorax in 

 length. Ocelli three. Antennae mostly setaceous, moderate. La- 

 brum entire, orbicular. Labium quadrifid, with Iacinia3 equal. 

 Elytra and wings in all. 



The anterior feet are situated close to the head, and are much 

 stronger than the rest, usually very thin; they have large com- 

 pressed thighs which are armed beneath with teeth or spines, and 

 have a channel in which the tibiae can be lodged like a clasp-knife. 

 With these fore-feet bent together and with head on high, these 

 insects often sit long in an immoveable position. Hence the eastern 

 people say that they are at prayers, and moreover, like true Ma- 

 hometans, with the face and hands turned towards Mecca. With 

 this pious deportment however, and the superstitious reverence 

 which is in consequence conferred on these insects by different 

 nations, their cruel worldliness is at variance ; they live on other 

 insects, and also mutually devour one another. See BLUMENBACH, 

 Abbild. natur-historisclwr Gegenstdnde, No. 88. 



