1879. ] J. Wood-Mason—On a new Genus of Phasmide. 117 
XII1.—Preliminary Notice of a new Genus (Parectatosoma) of Phasmide 
from Madagascar, with brief Descriptions of its two Species.—By 
J. Woop-Mason. 
The interesting and remarkable animals briefly noticed below formed 
part of a large collection of insects, chiefly Coleoptera, recently received 
in London from Madagascar, and I was fortunate, while at home on 
furlough, to secure specimens of them from Mr. E. W. Janson, the 
well-known Natural History Agent. 
They are unquestionably nearly related to Hetatosoma, an Australian 
genus, the three known members of which are three of the most curious and 
striking forms comprised in the whole class Insecta. ‘This relationship I 
have indicated in the name of the new genus which the differences present- 
ed by these insects compel me to propose for their reception, 
PARECTATOSOMA,* gen. nov. 
Closely allied to the Australian genus Eetatosoma, but differing there- 
from in the following characters:—the prothorax is relatively longer 
and more spiny; the male is devoid of ocelli, and, like the female, 
brachypterous ; the abbreviated tegmina in both sexes are shorter than the 
abbreviated wings; and the upper crest of all the femora is produced 
into a sharp genual spine. 
Of the species of the Australian genus, Hetatosoma bufoniwm, Westw., 
is the one which the Madagascar forms most nearly approach. 
1. Parectatosoma hystrix, n. sp. 
$¢. Head armed with 12 spines (besides scattered spinules) arrang- 
ed in four longitudinal rows and in pairs, of which one is large, compressed, 
and thorny, and constitutes the conspicuous cephalic horns; the pair of 
spines immediately in front of these is also compound, each being provided 
with a sharp spine-like cusp in front. The postantennary pair of spines 
is as well-developed as in Hetatosoma. 
- Sides and upper surface of prothorax strongly armed with thorns, 
some of which are double. The apices of the small tegmina barely 
reaching the bases of the wings, the true metanotum is consequently expos- 
ed and it is armed at the middle of its hinder margin with a pair of stout 
thorns. The tergum of the 1st somite and the terga of more or fewer 
(according to sex) of the remaining abdominal somites provided at their 
hinder extremities with two cross rows of spines. Posterior margin of 
tergum of last abdominal somite in the ¢ symmetrically divided into six. 
spinous processes, : 
* From rapa, by the side of, and Ectatosoma, generic name, 
