xii CONTENTS. 



PAGE 



general, of the Ground Species, of the Plant Types Special protec- 

 tive resemblance Alluring colouring Aggressive mimicry Geo- 

 graphical distribution ... ... ... ... ... 16 



CHAPTER III. 



WALKING-STICKS AND WALKING-LEAVES ( 



General peculiarities Appearance grotesque Mesothorax often rela- 

 tively very large Yet tegmina usually of small size, or absent, 

 even where lower wings are very largely developed In such cases 

 provision for defence of latter organs essential Characteristics and 

 habits Are herbivorous Their immobility Reasons and use 

 thereof More means of defence ; prickles and spines, power of 

 ejecting nauseous fluid, aquatic habits Curious power of repro- 

 ducing lost or injured limbs Eggs in Phasmidas generally of a 

 most remarkable nature Specially exemplified in eggs of Phyllium 

 Change during scramble out of egg ; and after Change in 

 colour at different periods of life ... ... ... ... 41 



CHAPTER IV. 



WALKING-STICKS AND WALKING-LEAVES (PHASMID^E) COntimied. 



Marvellous imitative resemblance of vegetative objects Walking-sticks 

 proper Beautiful and giant winged forms Bizarre shapes galore 

 End gained by this mimicry of course protection against attack 

 There is perhaps no other group of insects which in form and 

 colour are so generally imitative Leaf-insects Resemblance to 

 leaves displayed by tegmina, also by other parts Female alone 

 possessed of large leaf- like tegmina Tegmen of female Phyllium 

 from various points of view an exceptional structure Success of 

 artifice demonstrated Distribution of family That Walking-sticks 

 come of a remote antiquity That they are a singularly isolated 

 group .. ... ... ... ... ... . . 60 



