THE ORTHOPTERA. 113 



from the hollow stems of various trees, where it is found 

 inhabiting the deserted galleries of wood-boring species 

 frequently enlarging them to suit its own requirements. 



The plant most usually selected by these insects is the 

 mahoe (Melicytus ramiflorus), whose stems may be often 

 seen pierced with large holes. Out of these the insects 

 emerge at night to feed on the leaves. To extract a 

 number of specimens, without injury, requires considerable 

 care, and is best performed with a small axe, which should 

 be first used to cut in about three-quarters through the 

 trunk, just below one of the holes. Another notch is then 

 cut about a foot lower down, and the intermediate wood 

 split off in long pieces, until the tunnel is laid bare. On 

 approaching an insect the first thing seen are two red 

 threads, which are the antennae, laid back as shown at 

 Fig. 8. A deep notch is then cut into the trunk, some 

 nine or ten inches below this point, and the piece bodily 

 wrenched off. If the individual thus treated is a male he 

 will cling firmly to the log, elevating his hind-legs in 

 the air and biting viciously at anything within reach, but 

 the females, in the majority of cases, endeavour to escape 

 and hide themselves under the leaves, &c., on the ground. 

 Both sexes when irritated emit a peculiar grating sound, 

 which may be often heard at night in the forest, and is 

 produced by the friction of the femur against a small file 

 situated on each side of the second abdominal segment. 

 They can also leap a short distance, but not so far as 

 many of the smaller species (Libanasa macropathus, &c.). 

 They are evidently strictly arboreal in their habits, as 

 they exhibit great skill in walking along branches, and 

 will climb up a thin stick with wonderful rapidity. 



When in their burrows the posterior legs are extended 

 behind the insect and push, while the anterior and inter- 

 mediate ones are thrust forwards, the claws being firmly 

 inserted, so as to enable the insect to pull itself along. 



9 



