53 



the neighbourhood of Ardrossan ; the latter are small, but 

 distinguished by beautiful red, pink, and black coloured pos- 

 terior wings. Gryllus is prominent as the most prolific genus, 

 eontaining twenty species, one of which (perhaps two) rendered 

 itself notorious by its extensive devastations in 1871-2. Re- 

 siding at Monarto at the time, I observed an army of these 

 insects several acres in extent. Counting repeatedly the 

 number included in a square foot, it was found that twelve to 

 thirteen in front by eight or nine deep represented a fair 

 -average. At this rate the number occupying an acre exceeded 

 four and a half millions ! At the same time scores of such 

 armies were met with in the more open parts of the colony, 

 but very few in the mallee scrub. A wingless species of this 

 genus is of very grotesque appearance, and the female about 

 six times the bulk of the male. Another, but small species, 

 has wings, by way of contrast, extending about twice the length 

 of body when at rest. 



The Ma^tid^e are represented by thirteen species in three or 

 four genera. The genus Mantis contains five species, the 

 largest of which is green and is nearly two and a-half inches in 

 span ; the smallest is grey and scarcely exceeds one inch. 

 JPhyllitcm furnishes two, both from Torke's Peninsula ; the 

 largest measures two inches in length, two and five-eighth inches 

 in span, with very small posterior wings, and is of green colour ; 

 the other is considerably smaller and of a brown hue, the 

 anterior wings marked with a dark spot near the middle. 

 Cyplwcrania musters five species ; the largest female is nearly 

 four inches long and the span of the wings of the male exceeds 

 this. The wings of the females are in some cases scarcely one 

 third of the length of abdomen, and never exceeding one-half ; 

 those of the males, on the contrary, are very large and fitted 

 for sustained flight. Their very long legs, upon which the 

 extended narrow body gently sways to and fro, give a spider- 

 like appearance, while their moveable head, with its large 

 projecting eyes, and the devote attitude of the first pair of legs, 

 resembling hands clasped in prayer, add something very human, 

 not belied by their habits. They are the most perfect hunters 

 and robbers, and know well how to hide or to surprise. 



A very minute species of Htdroma^tis lives in the North 

 Para, but resembles the Phasmidcs somewhat in the form of its 

 forelegs. It is only three-eighths of an inch in length, and very 

 rare. 



Among the Phasmidje, of which three species have been 

 collected, the largest of all South Australian insects occur. 

 This species is five and one-eighth inches long ; span of wings, 

 seven and a quarter inches ; length of first pair of legs, three and 

 one-eighth inches. The whole of the body, the short anterior 



