NOTES ON SOME BORNE AN MANTIDM. 299 



irritated, as Phasmids and many other cryptically formed insects 

 do, but instantly prepare to attack their assailant. 



A very curious and interesting species is Metallyticus semi- 

 ceneus ; it is a metallic-green and blue-black, is much flattened 

 dorso-ventrally, and has many other uncommon characteristics ; 

 unlike all other Mantidce with which I am acquainted, it runs 

 with great swiftness, and with the gait of a cockroach, i. e. liter- 

 ally ventre a terre, the body not being raised well off the ground 

 as is the case with its relations. The species is found generally 

 on the bark of trees, but often underneath the bark, and it preys 

 on cockroaches. I endeavoured, with ill-success, to keep speci- 

 mens of this Mantis in captivity before I discovered that its 

 natural prey was cockroaches ; butterflies, flies, termites were 

 never touched, but if a cockroach was introduced into a cage 

 containing this Mantid, it was either pounced on at once or else 

 captured after a long and exciting chase all over the cage. 



Theopropus elegans has the curious habit of resting on the 

 femoro-coxal joints of all the legs; it progresses with a curious 

 swaying top-heavy motion, varied with an occasional scrambling 

 leap ; the large fore legs of this species appear as if too heavy 

 for it. The hind wings are a beautiful iridescent white, very 

 finely speckled with purple. 



Hymenopus bicornis, one of the Harpagides, is a floral simu- 

 lator throughout the whole of its life-history, with the exception 

 of the first stage. I shall have some remarks to make on the 

 young of this species later on. The adult is a cream-colour, 

 with some brown stains on the elytra ; the mid and hind femora 

 are furnished with plate-like expansions, the prothorax is only 

 slightly enlarged, and the fore legs not at all. In the cabinet the 

 insect does not look very flower-like, but when seen hanging per- 

 haps upside down on a bush with the two pairs of ambulatory 

 legs spread wide out, it can readily be mistaken for some curious 

 orchid-like bloom. It makes no " display " on the approach of 

 prey, but quietly waits till that comes within striking distance, 

 an exceptional habit induced doubtless by its floral simulation. 



Some Mantidce are much afflicted with a parasitic worm, a 

 long brown thread-like Gordian ; the two species that I have 

 found to be most affected are Hierodula dyaka and Rhombodera 

 basalis ; it is, indeed, very seldom that one of the latter is found 



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