22 ON SOME INSECT DEFORMITIES. 



The specimen is a female, of thirty-six mm. length, and perfectly de- 

 veloped. The wings are in good and perfect condition, but there is no 

 trace of the elytra ; which are entirely wanting on both sides. Pro- 

 fessor J. Wyman thought at first that the elytra had been removed by 

 somebody, and the insect put again at liberty But a careful examina- 

 tion of the living insect as well as of the alcoholic specimen by Dr. J. 

 L. Leconte, and by myself, showed no lesion whatsoever in the place 

 where the elytra should have been inserted. The anterior border of the 

 mesothorax is horny and smooth, and near the scutellum exists a small 

 membranous place without any wound. The legs, the prothorax, the 

 upper part of the mesothorax. the metathorax, the scutellum. and the 

 whole abdomen, are perfectly developed. 



This case of deformity belongs to the " monstres ectromeliens " of 

 Lacordaire, but as far as I am able to ascertain, no similar case is 

 recorded. The fact that the beetle was able to fly without elytra is of 

 additional interest. 



Prionus coriarius. 



This remarkable case is twice recorded, but later entirely overlooked. 

 As I believe this kind of deformity of prominent value, I give a trans- 

 lation of the origin d communication by Dr. Saage in Preussische Pro- 

 vinzial Blaetter (1839), Vol. XXII, p. 191. 



" One of my school-boys brought me to-day a male Prionus coriarius, the 

 thorax of which presents a curious deformity. The horny dorsal cover 

 of the mesothorax is wanting, and instead of elytra there are inserted, 

 just in their place of articulation, two perfect legs, directed above and 

 behind. The metathorax has the wings as usual, and the abdomen is 

 of the same horny character as commonly, when covered with elytra. 

 In attempts at flight the insect moved, together with the wings, the ab- 

 normal dorsal legs. The scutellum is wanting, and the prothorax has 

 only two spines ; all other parts are perfectly developed." 



'• Braunsberg, Prussia, July 10, 1839." 



This communication is reprinted in Stett. Ent. Zeit., Vol. I, p. 48. The 

 specimen was seen and examined afterwards by Professor von Siebold. 



I have always considered this case to be a striking proof of the 

 homology of the wings with the legs. No similar case has been re- 

 corded. 



