386 Mr. J. Wood-Mason on a new Genus 



What Dr. Grant said of the sponge fifty-three years ago 

 (no. 1, p. 138), equally applies to it at the present day, viz.: — 

 u This animal still affords many curious and interesting sub- 

 jects of inquiry to those who have leisure and opportunities 

 of examining the more perfect species of tropical seas [? in 

 temperate ones too !] ; and, though probably the simplest of 

 animal organizations, the investigation of its living habits, its 

 structure and vital phenomena, and the distinguishing cha- 

 racter of its innumerable polymorphous species, is peculiarly 

 calculated to illuminate the most obscure part of zoology, to 

 exercise and invigorate our intellectual and physical powers, 

 and to gratify the mind with the discovery of new scenes of 

 infinite wisdom in the economy of Nature." 



XLIII. — Preliminary Notice of a new Genus (Parectatosoma) 

 o/'Phasmidas from Madagascar, xoitli brief Descriptions of 

 Us two Species. By J. Wood-Mason*. 



The interesting and remarkable animals briefly noticed below 

 formed part of a large collection of insects, chiefly Coleoptera, 

 recently received in London from Madagascar ; and I was 

 fortunate, while at home on furlough, to secure specimens of 

 them from Mr. E. W. Janson, the well-known Natural-His- 

 tory agent. 



They are unquestionably nearly related to Ectatosoma, an 

 Australian genus, the three known members of which are 

 three of the most curious and striking forms comprised in the 

 whole class Insecta. This relationship I have indicated in 

 the name of the new genus which the differences presented 

 by these insects compel me to propose for their reception. 



Parectatosoma f, gen. nov. 



Closely allied to the Australian genus Ectatosoma, but 

 differing therefrom in the following characters : — The pro- 

 thorax is relatively longer and more spiny ; the male is 

 devoid of ocelli, and, like the female, brachypterous ; the 

 abbreviated tegmina in both sexes are shorter than the abbre- 

 viated wings ; and the upper crest of each of the femora is 

 produced into a sharp genual spine. 



Of the species of the Australian genus, Ectatosoma bufo- 



* From the ' Journal of the Asiatic Society of Bengal,' vol. xlviii. 

 part ii. 1879, pp. 117, 118. Communicated by the Author. 

 t From napa, by the side of, and Ectatosoma, generic name. 



