84 



ACCOUNT OF THE PHASMIDAE, WITH NOTES ON THE EGGS. 



In addition to the type specimen and the variety, Dr Willey found a nymph 

 evidently near the last ecdysis, being of about the full size. The stripes are very 

 distinct in it. 



Genus. Brachyrtacus, n. g. 



$ . Antennae elongatae, multiarticulatae, corpus inerme apterum, pedes simplices, 

 segmentum medianum vix discretum, sat breve, metanoto multo brevius ; abdomen in 

 processu subacuminatum prolongatum ; cerci minuti. 



<?■ Incog. 



This genus very much resembles Hyrtacus Stal, but has a shorter head and a 

 longer median segment. Few Phasmids are so destitute of conspicuous characters. 

 The elongate, terminal, ovipositor exists in but few genera and will aid those who 

 have not access to an exponent of Hyrtacus in recognising this form. 



In addition to the median segment there are only eight dorsal abdominal plates 

 and the elongate terminal process. The latter structure is doubtless formed by the 

 fusion of the ninth plate and the lamina supra-analis ; in Eurycantha the two parts 

 remain distinct. 



The genus Hyrtacus is Australian, and only two species are referred to it as yet. 

 Stal made the elongate head of H. tuberculatus one of the chief characters of the 

 genus. B. celatus has a head of only the length of ordinary Lonchodides, and I have 

 therefore been obliged to treat the New Britain insect as a distinct genus. 



(7) Brachyrtacus celatus, n. sp. PI. VII, Fig. 4. 



$ . Pallide fuscus, lividus, inornatus ; subtiliter punctatus ; capite canaliculate 

 Long. corp. 70 mm. ; antenn. 47 mm. ; capitis post antenn. 2 mm. ; pronoti 2| mm. ; 

 mesonoti 16£ mm. ; metan. 6£ mm. ; segm. med. 2 mm. ; abdom. 40 mm. (lam. supra- 

 analis cumque abdominis segm. ult. 9 mm.) ; femor. ant. 17 mm. 

 Loc. New Britain. 



The three specimens found by Dr Willey are extremely similar. An immature 

 nymph of the male sex renders it probable that the male will be found to closely 

 resemble the female in size and form. The colour of this nymph is pale green. 



Egg (PI. IX, Fig. 32). The egg of this species is remarkable for its long slender 

 form ; at first sight it might be supposed to be the egg of a Locustid, but the oper- 

 culum is quite definite and the micropylar area is well-marked ; there is no capitulum. 

 We have only one specimen, it has been damaged by fracture just across the micropylar 

 scar so that the details of the structure are obscured. 



Tribe. Clitumnides. 

 Genus. Eurycantha. 



Eurycantha. Boisduval, Voy. de 1' Astrolabe, Zool. Ent. p. 647. 

 The remarkable insects composing this genus appear to be peculiar to New Guinea 

 and the neighbouring islands. 



