389 
which traverse them have precisely the appearance of the ribs 
of the leaf. A kind of suture which seems to unite the wings in 
the centre, though they are really detached, presents a ridge 
perfectly analogous to that of the leaf stalk. The legs are flat, 
and of such a form as closely to resemble those little abortions of 
leaves which are frequently found on the Badamier. Another 
remarkable circumstance is the change of color which these 
insects undergo. As the leaves on which they feed wither, they 
lose their bright green color, and become yellow; whether they 
resume their green color with the leaves or not, is not known. 
No insect is more harmless and defenceless than this; their sole 
safety consists in their escaping observation by the close resem- 
blance to the plant on which they feed. Their greatest enemies 
are ants, which prey upon them with great avidity, cutting out 
Pieces of their wings and carrying them off, until the poor insect 
1S completely dismembered. They seem sensible of no pain 
during this attack, for we have repeatedly seen ants eating the 
wings, while the fly continued its own repast on the badamier 
lea without interruption ; nevertheless, death ensues. They eat 
Ih the same way as caterpillars, cutting in a circular direction, 
but they are far from being so voracious as these insects. They 
drink frequently, plunging their mouths into the dew-drops, and 
drinking by suction. 
I Ehe mouche-feuille attains its full growth in about four — 
onths, and then begins to lay, and deposits an egg daily for 
about three months, when it dies. The eggs are of a dark . 
rown color, and much resemble in shape the Carambole, but. 
With a little knob at each end. They are about three lines in 
length, and one and a half in diameter at the largest part. I 
s from eighty to ninety days the young are hatched, and are then - 
wt of a reddish brown color, nearly an inch long, and perfectly mh —— 
T Without Any appearance of wings. It seems incredible that E 
_ “ect of such a size could have been contained in such an egg. 
As they Stow, the color gradually changes, and the wings appear, 
but we are unable to detail minutely the stages of | their growth ; 
ur but We believe it to differ from that of almost every other insect 
p: E they do not change their skin. They were formerly 
found in all parts of the islands, but are now rarely met with 
