234 
SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 
are certainly erroneous. Lichtenstein, for example, 
refers to this species two mantes figured by Stoll, one 
from Surinam, the other from Tranquebar, which 
have all the appearance of being distinct. It has now 
been demonstrated, that, in order to obtain just views 
of the geographical distribution of insects, as well as 
other tribes of inferior animals, more importance must 
be allowed to minute characters than they were 
thought to deserve by the older naturalists. Even 
with this limitation, however, there is no doubt that 
this species is widely spread. 
MANTIS (DEROPLATYS) DESICCATA, West , 
Plate IX. 
This plate represents, of the natural size, a remark- 
able and unique insect, hitherto undescribed, belong- 
ing to the present family. The expansive membrane 
on each side of the thorax is one of its most remark- 
able characters. From its resemblance to a withered 
leaf, Mr. Westwood, to whom we are indebted for a 
figure and description, has distinguished it by the 
above name. 
The length of the body is about three inches, the 
expansion of the tegmina three inches and a quarter. 
The colour is obscure brown variegated with dull red 
and buff. The eyes are large, lateral, and not acu- 
minate ; head unarmed. Thorax furnished on each 
side with a large and very thin membrane, (resem- 
bling a withered leaf,) having a deep dentate notch 
on each side behind. The margins of the abdominal 
