222 



MB. A. M. ALTSON ON THE LIFE-HISTORY AND 



"... the female is a rich dark green, the abdomen nearly 

 black, the head and thorax dorsad, reflecting brassy scintillations, 

 in some lights entirely brassy ; in the ventral aspect and also the 

 lateral, the thorax appears bluish ; the antennae dark, the scape 

 and pedicel a rich brown, the legs mostly brown with darker 

 femora. On the contrarj^ the males appear a brilliant bright 

 metallic green, reflecting brassiness, the antennas and legs light 

 yellowish brown, the wings small, clouded, with a soiled appear- 

 a,nce ; the ventral aspect is the same, but with slight traces of 

 metallic bluish. The male is noticeably more brilliant and bright 

 than the female, which is somewhat sombre." (6.) 



Text-figure 17. 



Male N. h'evicornis. Greatly magnified. Original. 



Variations of the foregoing description of the type species 

 were observed in the females ; with light brown or yellowish 

 brown femora, not (hirk or clouded; general colour deep metallic 

 blue ; fore-wings not naked in the basal triangle of wings below 

 the submarginal vein, the costal margin vv'ith more bristles. Of 

 six such specimens mounted for microscopical examination, no 

 uniformity was found in the venation. The number of setsB 

 in basal area of fore win o- varied from 2-5, position also varied. 

 Bristles on costal margin also varied, as many as 14 were 

 observed. 



Courtmg and Mating. — " Courting in this insect is not a, com- 

 plex liabit. It foUow^s almost immediately after emergence, at 

 least in confinement. Where a number of both sexes are 

 gathered together, all recently emerged, the ma.les and females 

 are constantly in motion, the former active, seeking the females ; 

 the antennie of both sexes also constantly in motion, held inclined 

 upward in the natural position, giving quick, jerky, wav}'' move- 

 ments. When one individual meets another, the antennie simply 

 touch whichever portion of the body preserts itse'f first, and the 

 two turn aside and pass on ; or if they happen to be individuals 

 of opposite sex and (apparently) the occasion is suitable — wdiich 



