Zoology.-] NATURAL HISTORY OF VICTORIA. [Insects. 



tegmina, ■££$ ; width of tegmina, T f ^ ; length of one wing, -^ ; width of costal 

 area, y 1 ^ ; greatest width of wing, T %% ; length of anterior femora, T %% ; second 

 femora, f y ff ; hind femora, -££$ ; width of hind femora, T f 7 . 



Reference. — = Phasma violascens, Leach, Zool. Misc., v. 1, t. 9 (male) 

 = Diura roseipennis, Gray, Ent. Aust, t. 7, f. 2 (female). 



The Phasmse of the genus Acrophylla generally have three 

 ocelli on top of the head, but A. violascens has none ; the great 

 length of the mesothorax, compared with the prothorax, is very 

 remarkable in these insects. The anal styles vary much in length 

 and width in the tropical species, but are only very moderate and 

 nearly alike in both sexes in A. violascens. The deep violet colour 

 of the under- wings in the males is so curiously different from the 

 rosy pink of the same part in the females that no one would guess 

 they were sexes of the same species if it had not been a matter of 

 observation beyond doubt ; the carination of the mesothorax in the 

 one sex and not in the other is a very unusual sexual difference. 

 The yellow bases of the costal area and yellow stripes on abdomen 

 of females, mentioned by Westwood, are only post-mortem appear- 

 ances, not seen in life, or unless the tegmina after death be allowed 

 to remain over the costal area, or the wings be allowed to rest for 

 some time on the abdomen. 



Not very uncommon at Oakleigh, near Melbourne. 



A large variety, 3 inches 6 lines long (male), with stouter legs 

 and paler wings, occurs at Warragul, and females found therewith 

 have the wings colourless ; but they seem to be only local varieties. 



Explanation of Figures. 



Plate 79. — Fig. 1, male specimen, flying, natural size. Fig. la, antennse, head, prothorax, 

 and mesothorax, magnified. Fig. 16, hind leg, magnified, showing the large teeth. Fig. lc, side 

 view of posterior joints of abdomen, magnified. Fig. Id, one of anal styles, further magnified ; 

 Fig. le, view of posterior end of abdomen, magnified, view from above. Fig. 2, female, natural 

 size. Fig. 2a, ditto, antennas, head, prothorax, and keeled mesothorax, magnified. Fig. 26, ditto, 

 hind leg, magnified. Fig. 2c, ditto, side view of hind segments of abdomen, magnified to show 

 ovipositor. Fig. 3, Podacanthus Typhon, young specimen, with undeveloped wings, natural size ; 

 the left hind leg is shorter than that of the other side, and has only four joints in the tarsus, 

 from having been lost and being in progress of restoration. (See Plate 80 for adult.) 



Frederick McCoy. 



[34] 



