ACCOUNT OF THE PHASMIDAE, WITH NOTES ON THE EGGS. 



Mas. Gracilis : testaceo-viridis, subfuseescens ; abdoniine segmentis 5 et 6, tenuiter 

 lobo-dilatatis, lobis fuscescentibus ; femoribus posterioribus spinis 5, elongatis, armatis. 



L>u£r. corp. 95 mm. ; autenn. ultra 40 mm. ; cap. post antenn. 4^ mm. ; pronot. 

 4 mm.: mesonot. 15 mm.: nietanoti partis alas ferentis 5§ mm.; pars poster. 4 mm. 

 segm. rued. 4 mm.: abdoni. seg. secundi 9^ mm.; abdom. 58 mm.; cere. 4^ mm. 



Var. depictus. This species varies a good deal in colouration, and also in the form 

 of the cerci, the length of the legs, and of the ovipositor, and even in the shape of 

 the abdominal segments and their lateral expansions. In one individual the fuscous 

 marks bear at the back of each thoracic and abdominal segment a pallid mark forming 

 an inner margin to the fuscous marks ; although I do not think this is a distinct 

 species it may be well to give it a name. 



Loc. Lifu. 



Egg (PL IX, Fig. 35). The egg of G. bicolor is small in proportion to the size of 

 the insect, being scarcely 3| mill, long including the capitulum. It is less remarkable 

 in structure than usual with Phasmid eggs. The surface of the capsule is densely and 

 finely rugose. The lines limiting the micropylar area are not elevated, the micropylar 

 scar is strongly elevated, forming a slightly curved transverse line, concealing the 

 micropylar orifice. The capitulum is large without any trace of a stalk, and bearing 

 a deep pit at the top. The shell of the egg is thin. 



The egg in this species is variable like the insect itself: and it is possible that 

 these forms may be " incipient species,"' but the material at my disposal is too small 

 to allow me to form any decided opinion. 



(12) Gigantophasma pallipes, n. sp. 



Fern. Viridi-testacea, antennis pedibusque pallidis ; abdominis segmentis 2 — 7 later- 

 aliter plus minusve lobo-dilatatis, segmentis 8 — 10 parvis : femoribus intermediis et 

 posterioribus. tibiis posterioribus ad apicem, absque lamina elevata. 



Long. corp. (cum ovipos.) 187 mm.: (cetera fere ut in G. bicolore). 



Loc. Lifu : a single specimen. 



Independently of the pale colour — which is perhaps of little importance as a specific 

 character — this Insect differs from all the specimens of G. bicolor by the absence of the 

 elevated laminae on the middle and posterior femora and tibiae, and by the longer 

 basal joint of the posterior tarsi, the upper margin of which is not curvate. The 

 ovipositor extends 12 mm. beyond the tip of the abdomen. 



Dr Willey brought back a specimen which is probably the male of this species 

 (PL VII. Fig. 5), as it has pallid legs and antennae: the small lateral lobes of the 

 abdomen possess a metallic, golden, reflection, and the cerci are shorter and broader than 

 they are in the male of G. bicolor, and the spines on the hind femora are more 

 numerous (PL IX, Fig. 22). 



[Hermarchus pythonius. Although this species was not obtained by Dr Willey, we 

 figure the egg (Fig. 36) taken from the ovaries of a specimen brought by Mr Stanley 

 Gardiner from the island of Rot u ma. The sculpture of the capsule is remarkably 

 coarse, and the operculum, which is destitute of a capitulum, has a very deep circular 



