OE-THOFrERA. 291 



is met with in Egypt, Arabia, and in the Canary Islands. This 

 insect, which is of a pale green, is not rare in the south of France. 

 It is represented with the Mantis religiosa in Fig. 302. 



The Phasmce, or Spectres, are distinguished from the Mantidce by 

 their very elongated bodies, straight and stiff as a stick, by their 

 having no prehensile legs, and by their food, which is exclusively 

 vegetable. Their eggs are laid uncovered, having no silky envelope. 

 As for the habits of these insects, they are little known, the 

 greatest number of the species being exotics, inhabiting chiefly 

 South America, Asia, Africa, and New Holland. It is in this 

 tribe that we meet the most extraordinary and the most mon- 

 strously shaped insects, as the popular names they have received 

 in different countries show : such as Spectres, Phantoms, Devil's 

 Horses, Soldiers of Cayenne, Walking Leaves, Animated 

 Sticks, &c. 



Among the Phasmse we also find the largest insects known, for 

 they attain a considerable length, Phasma gigas nearly reaching a 

 foot. The most beautiful are those of New Holland and of Tas- 

 mania, such as Cyphocrana (Phasma) gigas. 



Some species are destitute of wings, and resemble so exactly 

 dry sticks that it is impossible to tell the difference. The 

 best known is the Phasma Rossi (Fig. 303), which is found in 

 the south of France. This inoffensive insect walks gently 

 along the branches of trees, and likes to repose in the sun, its 

 long antennae-like legs stretched out in front. Others of the 

 genus Phyllium are provided with wings, and have altogether the 

 appearance of the leaves on which they live ; such are the Walking 

 Leaves of the East Indies. According to Cunningham, all these 

 insects are of solitary and peaceable habits. They are only to 

 be met with, alone or in pairs, drawing themselves gently along 

 on shrubs, on which they pass the hottest months of the year. 

 Some of them, when they are seized, emit a milky liquid, of a 

 very strong and disagreeable odour. 



Those Orthoptera which we have already mentioned had all 

 their six legs adapted to running, and are called Cursoria. Those 

 which jump, to which we now come, have their hind-legs 

 stronger and thicker, which enables them to leap, and are on that 

 account called Saltatoria. This section comprises three families, 



