65 
PLATE XVII. 
ILLUSTRATIONS OF TWO ROSTRATED LOCUSTIDiE. 
The insects represented in the opposite plate exhibit a singular 
departure from the ordinary form of the Locusts, in the front of the 
head being produced into a long rostrum somewhat like that of the 
typical Fulgorse. Amongst the grasshoppers with long antennae there 
is a genus, Copiopliora, in which the head is elevated into an erect 
and pointed horn, and in Mesops and Proscopia, two genera of 
Locusts, we find an approximation to these two insects. 
Notwithstanding the great elongation of the head in front of the 
eyes, I refer the unique insect represented in the upper figure to 
the genus Opsomala of Serville rather than to his genus Mesops, 
because the antennae are inserted near the eyes, whereas in the 
latter genus (which has much more the habit of Truxalis) the eyes 
are “ places assez loin des antennes,” and because the same organs 
are not ensiform, thus assigning the insect to Serville’s second divi¬ 
sion of Opsomala with the “antennes composees cTarticles peu aplatis 
et point elargis.” 
OPSOMALA GLADIATOR, Westw. (PI. 17, fig. 1). 
Luteo-fusca, virescente parum tincta, capite antice in rostrum (prothorace duplo longius) pro- 
ducto, antennis rostro brevioribus gracilibus, alis hyalinis vix incoloratis, abdomine 
longissimo, pedibus 4 anticis brevissimis. 
Long. corp. (rostro incl.) unc. ; long capitis unc. 1, ante oculos unc. J. Expans. tegm. 
unc. 3$. 
Habitat Sierram Leonam. In Mus. D. Hope. 
This is a giant in the genus Opsomala, being nearly twice as long as tlie largest described 
species. It is entirely of a luteous brown colour, slightly varied with darker brown, with a paler 
oblong patch on each side of the upper surface of the protlicrax. The head is produced into 
a rostrum nearly three-fourths of an inch long, its upper surface being nearly continuous with 
the disk of the head, and graduaUy narrowed from the eyes to the tip ; the upper surface fiat 
along the middle, hut with the sides towards the eyes defiexed ; the under surface of the 
rostrum forms a very sharp edge, and is slightly curved, the tip being obliquely truncate. 
The eyes are oval and slightly elevated y the antennae are placed at the base of tlie lateral 
channel which extends from the base to the apex at the sides of the rostrum ; they are slender, 
filiform, and not so long as the rostrum. The protliorax is slightly rugose, with the dorsal 
carina scarcely elevated, and with three transverse very slight impressed lines across tlie middle 
of the back. Tlie tegmina arc narrow, not so long as the abdomen, with the apex almost 
rounded; they are of a pale luteous-brown colour, with the veins varied with darker brown; 
the wings are almost colourless ; the middle of many of the cells is, however, rather clouded 
with a tingo of pale brown. The abdomen is very compressed and shining, with the anal ap¬ 
pendages whitish. The four fore legs are very short, and the hind pair are scarcely longer 
than the abdomen ; the femora terminating on the outside in an elongated spine. The pro¬ 
sternum is armed with a short spine, and the meso- and metasternuma are broad. 
NO. V.—1 St JANUARY, 1842. F 
