ACCOUNT OF THE PHASMIDAE, WITH NOTES 

 ON THE EGGS. 



By D. SHARP, MA., F.R.S. 



With Plates VII— IX. 



The specimens of this family of Orthoptera brought back by Dr Willey represent 

 upwards of twenty species. Some of the species are represented only by individuals 

 that are not full-grown, and I find that it is not desirable to deal with these, as we 

 at present know but little of the post-embryonic development, so that it is difficult 

 to determine what relations of colour, form and wing-development the young may 

 bear to the adult. In the case of Eurycantha horrida I have identified the young 

 with some probability of accuracy, and we have therefore figured some stages of the 

 development. From what we find in the case of this species we may conclude that 

 great changes in the external characters occur in the course of the development. 

 Even when the difference between the sexes is very great in the adult state it is 

 difficult if not impossible to distinguish the sexes in the young by external signs. 

 Hence it is not at present desirable to describe and name new species from specimens 

 that are not adult. 



The species brought back from New Britain and Lifu in the adult state are 

 six in number from Lifu, and eleven from New Britain. The Insect-fauna of 

 these islands has not hitherto been the subject of any important study, and our 

 knowledge of that of New Guinea is only small, so that it is scarcely a matter for 

 surprise that a large proportion of the species — 14 of the 17 — appears to be unknown. 

 Dr Willey was necessarily limited in his activity to a few spots on the coasts of 

 the islands, and we may therefore conclude that many more species of these curious 

 insects are existent in the two islands in question. 



Under these circumstances it is not worth while to attempt any conclusions as 

 to the geographical distribution. I may however remark that 53 species of Phasmidae 

 are now known from Australia 1 and that they appear to have but little close 



1 Rainbow, Uec. Austral. Mus. III., No. 2, 1897. 



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