208 



GLEAKlX(li> FROM X ATI' UK. 



\ 



PHASMIDjE. 



Belonging to the family PAosim'rf<5, there occtira in 



Indiana, as tar as known, but one species, the walking- 

 stick, Diapheromerafemorata 

 (Say). This insect furnishes 



a niQst ex- 

 The Walking- 

 stick, cellent ex- 

 ample of 



adaptation for the purpose 

 of protection. It is wing- 

 less and possesses a long, 

 cylindrical body, resembling 

 a slender stick with the bark 

 on it. It moves very slowly, 

 and has a habit of remain- 

 ing motionless and appar- 

 ently dead for a considera- 

 ble length of time. On such 

 occasions it usually stretches 

 itself out from a twig, with 

 its front legs and antennse 

 extended, and then can 

 scarcely be distinguished 

 from a prolongation or 

 branch of the twig. Many 

 people who see them thus 

 for the first time and afte*r- 

 wards watch them moving 

 slowly away, can scarcely 

 be persuaded that they are 

 not real twigs, gifted in some 

 mysterious manner with life and motion. 



\ 



Fig. 45 Walking-stick. 

 (After Lugger.) 



