REARING EXOTIC INSECTS. 281 



in size; those portions of the body which first escaped 

 from the skin expanded suddenly to one-fourth 

 greater size than the parts remaining imprisoned 

 in the old envelope, and in this state the insect ap- 

 peared curiously one-sided. The increase in the size 

 of the locust, after the last casting of the skin, is said 

 to be equally remarkable. In the Leaf-insect under 

 description, the wings, on escaping from their cases, 

 were not more than one quarter of an inch long, but 

 at once shot out to their full length in a very sur- 

 prising manner. The entire creature, though so 

 suddenly increased in general dimensions, was at 

 first very soft and tender, and only very slowly 

 acquired its proper consistency. 



After the first two moults it had become each 

 time more freshly and beautifully green ; but after 

 the last, the green was bordered with yellow, which 

 gradually turned to brown, like the leaves of trees 

 in the autumn; and by degrees the whole insect 

 became brown, like a leaf about to fall. This is the 

 sign of its decay, which seems, like its form, to have 

 some extraordinary analogy with that of real leaves. 

 During the rearing of the Leaf-insect, the plant- 

 house in which it was placed was kept at 55 degrees 

 as constantly and evenly as possible, that being 

 about the temperature of its native climate. 



