ORTHOPTERA. 49 



appointment. The delicately winged Amrlrx, Indajitni/.r, and others, 

 are very like Ma7iti>ipa, but we cannot tell which mimics which, or 

 whether, as is more probable, it is a case of parallel development. 

 Sharp quotes a case of a Mantis resembling a Phasmid {Ikirilliis .'), 

 with short anterior limbs ; Bates suggested that the Mantis fed on the 

 Phasmid, but as yet we can only guess. The female I'ifrffoviayitis 

 sinr/idarix is like certain Phaftmodea, though the probable explanation is 

 that both resemble twigs, but independently of each other, and that 

 this is not a case of mimicry. Sharp tells us that Mr. Graham Kerr 

 found on the Pilcomayo river a Mantid exactly resembling the lichen 

 on which it lived ; it was accompanied by a Phaneropterid grass- 

 hopper, which bore a similar resemblance to the lichen, but this case is 

 analogous with the last. The Phasmodni present an extraordinary 

 variety of form, and almost invariably show remarkable assimilation 

 to their surroundings, but I can find no case of a Phasmid resembling 

 other living creatures. 



In the Avridiodea, we find the remarkable family ProHcopidai', in its 

 attenuated apterous form, which recalls the slender Phasmodea, but we 

 have no evidence to show any association between the two groups. It 

 must be borne in mind that in the Proscopidae different parts of the 

 body are modified from those in the Phaamodra, so that we have a 

 similar effect from similar modification of different parts. In the 

 Tcttifiidaf, some genera, Xemphiilluw, BoL, Cladonntus, Bol., Choro- 

 phylluw, Serv., possess the pronotum greatly dilated and compressed, 

 which brings about a close resemblance to dried leaves and certain 

 Memhracidar. Fabricius, indeed, included some species in the genus 

 Membracis. In the Mastacidar we find quite a distinct form of mimicry. 

 The genus Erucius, Stal., has long wings and elytra, clear and hyaline, 

 even the latter being transparent. When these curious grasshoppers 

 are set Avith the legs stretched out behind, the strong resemblance to 

 smaller dragonflies is obvious. They are natives of India, Java, 

 and Borneo, and offer the least questionable case of mimicry that we 

 can find in Orthoptera. The species of the genus Masta.r, occurring in 

 tropical South America, have been noticed to imitate other insects. 

 Gerstaecker has called attention to the reseiuhhxnce oi Ma'ita.r pcrsanata, 

 Bol. (= imitatri.r, Gerst.), to species of Sire.r. 



In the hnncstodca occurs what is, perhaps, the most remarkable 

 case of mimicry recorded in Orthoptera. This is the well-known 

 m^taxi.CQ oi MyrmccDphana falla.r. This insect belongs to the Pliane- 

 rnptt'ridae, a group in which the species are usually large, and chiefly 

 bright green in colour ; but M. falla.r is strikingly like an ant in 

 appearance. The antennse are comparatively short, the general colour 

 is black, the appearance of the stalked abdomen, that is so character- 

 istic of ants, being produced by white patches on the sides, visible also 

 from above. The specimens are wingless, have no ovipositor, and are 

 very small. The result is an extraordinary resemblance to an ant. 

 They were taken in the Sudan, in the Antinori expedition, and are 

 figured by Brunner and Sharp. They are very likely innnature, but 

 the development of wings, and an ovipositor, however small, would 

 certainly contribute to spoil the eftect. Other cases of mimicry in 

 LoniKtddca, more or less doubtful, are I'liasinodcs ranatri/oDiiis, from 

 Australia, like a slender apterous Phasmid ; Pruchilns anstralis, like a 

 winged Phasmid ; and the elongate South African Sagid, i'vriniiuvydla 



