240 
SYSTEMATIC ARRANGEMENT. 
Phasmidse certainly surpass all others in length. 
Many uf them measure balf-a-foot from one ex 
tremity to the other, and one of them, (P. gig as) 
occasionally attains the length of about nine inches. 
The resemblance of the narrow bodied kinds to a small 
branch, is in many instances remarkably close, and 
this in connection with other peculiarities, is no 
doubt often the means of preserving them from the 
attacks of other animals. Were this not the case, 
they would fall an easy prey to their enemies, for 
they are ill fitted to act on the defensive, and the 
slowness of their movements affords but little chance 
of escape by flight. Among the other peculiarities 
alluded to, may bo mentioned the spines with which 
many of them are beset, particularly on the head 
and thorax. As an example of this sort, P. cornu - 
turn , a large species, may be cited, whose frontal 
horns give such a formidable expression to its head, 
that it would not be supposed a priori to belong to a 
creature of perfectly innoxious habits. 
To enable them to cling to branches, and “ drag 
their slow length along,” the tarsi in general are much 
developed ; the basal joint especially is often long 
