866 MR. NELSON ANNAXDALE OX THE [DeC 4, 



VII. The Use of the Spines of certain Orthoptera. 

 The Locustid (Eumegalodon blanch ardi). 



Colour and Form. — The whole exposed surface of this well- 

 known and peculiar form is coloured pale brown, speckled, but 

 not in any very marked way, with a darker shade. Its coloration 

 bears a general, and by no means highly specialized, resemblance 

 to a withered leaf. 



The most peculiar features of its external form are the enormous 

 stoutness of the head and jaws, and the well-developed thorn-like 

 processes on the thorax. 



Habits. — The only specimen secured was captured in a rice-field, 

 then partially Hooded, at Belimbing in the Ulu Legeh, on July 22nd. 

 I was crossing the swamp towards a solitary tree of large size that 

 grew on the embankment halfway across. When about teu 

 yards distant from this tree, I noticed what appeared to be a 

 dead leaf falling from one of its lower branches at a height of 

 perhaps eight feet from the ground. Judging from the way it fell 

 that the leaf must have something, perhaps a chrysalis, attached 

 to it, I left the embankment and waded to the place where it had 

 touched the ground, and was surprised to find a fine male specimen 

 of Bhimegalodon seated motionless on the damp earth. It made 

 no attempt to escape but did its best to defend itself with its 

 really formidable mandibles, a bite from which would have taken 

 a piece right out of the finger. 



Remarks. — It is very dangerous to generalize from a single 

 instance of this sort ; but the behaviour of the insect was interesting, 

 and may possibly cast some light on the use of the peculiar spines 

 on its back. I am sure, from the rapidity with which it fell and 

 from its appearance while in the air, that the wings were folded 

 as it dropped from the tree ; I am also convinced that it dropped 

 and did not leap down. Supposing that its usual habit is to 

 descend thus — and I have no reason to suppose that the behaviour 

 of my specimen was at all peculiar — it is easy to see that its 

 spines, combined with the sturdy build of the anterior part of its 

 body, might assist greatly in breaking its fall, should it strike 

 against anything hard or sharp ; for necessarily it would fall head 

 downwards, the head and thorax being heavier than the abdomen. 

 This suggestion does not interfere with the view that these 

 structures may also be of use in defending the insect against its 

 enemies, whatever they may be, should it be attacked from behind; 

 in which case its jaws could not assist it ; very possibly it may 

 drop from the tree to escape assailants. Professor Meldola has 

 suggested the same use for the hairs and spines on caterpillars. 



VIII. The peculiar Prolongation of the Head in certain 



FULGORID.E, AND ITS USE. 



Eotimis, Pyrops, &c. 



The curious anterior prolongation of the head in many genera 

 of the Fulgorida) has long puzzled entomologists, and some have 



