1909. } ON THE LIFE-HISTORY OF THE LEAF-INSECT. 103 
their range considerably. In the clearings in Flying Fish Cove 
and on the shore-terrace it is interesting to note that nearly all 
the secondary growth consists of a small tree, Jelia azederach, 
which at the time of my first visit was represented by two or 
three examples only, and these had most likely been introduced 
by man. In other parts of the island clearings are often 
occupied by great numbers of seedlings of Jnocarpus edulis ; 
this is one of the consequences of the extinction of the rats, 
which formerly fed largely on the fallen fruits ef this tree. 
“Much time was spent in collecting the marine fauna, espe- 
cially of the reef at Flying Fish Cove, and I hope that reports on 
some of the groups will be published shortly.” 
The following papers were read :— 
1. Preliminary Account of the Life-history of the Leaf- 
Insect, Phyllium crurifolium Serville. By H. 8. Leran, 
Honorary Research Fellow in the University of 
Manchester.* 
[Received December 23, 1908. | 
(Plate XXVIII. 7) 
The present paper is intended to form a preliminary account of 
the life-history of a Leaf-Insect, Phyllium crurifolium? Serv. from 
the Seychelles Islands. I have had this species under observation 
during the past year, and although I have been able to note 
several facts of interest in connection with the development, 
many of the more important details remain to be worked out. 
It was thought, however, that notwithstanding the fragmentary 
nature of my observations up to the present time, some account 
of this remarkable insect might prove interesting, and it is on 
this consideration that the following preliminary account has been 
written. 
My study of P. crurifoliwm has been carried on in the Zoological 
Laboratories of the Manchester University, and also in the hot- 
houses at my own residence in Worsley. 
I had neither sufficient material nor apparatus for making a 
complete study of the insect and its development during the past 
year. The work will be continued, however, during the coming 
season, and with abundant material at my disposal I hope to com- 
plete the details of the study and publish the results in a fully 
illustrated memoir. 
During the autumn of 1907 I received a hundred ova and some 
* Communicated by Professor S. J. Htcxson, ¥.B.S., F.Z.S. 
+ For explanation of the Plate see p. 113. 
+ Kirby (1904) ineludes this species in his genus Pulchriphyllium. 
