Habits, etc.. of the "Walking-Stick" {Afilopus uiaycri). 49 



occasions females were touched lightly as thej' sat in their protective attitude. 

 They remained motionless after being touched, as though they were inani- 

 mate bodies. A male under observation about dusk was struck by a large 

 . insect which flew against it ; the Aplopus jerked quickly back and remained 

 motionless for more than a minute, after which it walked swiftly down 

 the branch. 



The most effective means of escape for these animals is the " dropping 

 reaction." When one attempting to capture an Aplopus fails to seize it the 

 first time, it often drops bodily from the limb on which it rested and catches 

 on some lower branch that it may chance to strike. If seen and unsuccess- 

 fulh' grabbed at for the second time, it will again drop and may sometimes 

 fall entirely to the ground. One male in attempting to escape capture fell 

 to the ground, striking on its back with its legs extended in the air. It 

 feigned death perfectly and remained in this awkward position for more 

 than 8 minutes; then turned itself over and moved away so quickly that it 

 was lost sight of in the clim evening light. 



Since " walking-sticks " are unable either to fly or jump, this dropping 

 reaction is a most important means of escape, and the dense growth of the 

 Suviaiia bushes would apparently prevent birds from finding the insect a 

 second time after it had so suddenly fallen out of reach. Their motionless 

 attitudes during the day and close resemblance to the stems of the bushes 

 no doubt serve to protect Aplopus to a marked degree from predaceous 

 birds and other enemies. 



The food of Aplopus consists entirely of the leaves of Suriaiia uiaritima, 

 the plant on which it lives. The only previously published statement regard- 

 ing its habits is a brief paragraph in the catalogue from the supply depart- 

 ment of the Marine Biological Laboratory at Woods Hole. This states 

 that " the prey is seized by a quick movement of the forelegs." Such an 

 idea is, of course, erroneous, since all members of this family are known to 

 be vegetable feeders. The statement is doubtless based on the opinion of 

 some amateur collector. Aplopus usually feeds at night, although those 

 resting on leafy branches are sometimes observed to feed during the day. 

 In feeding they bite the leaf straight across the top and often eat it entirely 

 away, or they may bite the leaf in an up-and-down fashion until it is con- 

 sumed. They rarely make semicircular cuts in the leaves, as the locust often 

 does. These characteristicall)- bitten leaves serve to furnish a trustworthy 

 index of the whereabouts of Aplopi, as they seem to be somewhat locally 

 distributed on the island. 



MATING INSTINCTS. 



Mating occurs as a rule during the night, although several pairs were 



observed in copulo during the day. The active process is much the same 



as in kindred insects. The male takes a position on the back of the female, 



with his front feet resting on her metathora.x, the second pair of feet 



