Plate L. fig. 2.
ORDER: Orthoptera. SECTION: Cursoria. FAMILY: Mantidæ.
GENUS. EMPUSA, _Latr. Serv._ Gongylus, _Thunberg_. Mantis, _Fabr. Drury_.
EMPUSA GONGYLODES. Capite subulato, prothorace antice dilatato,
trochanteribus anticis spinâ, femoribus quatuor posticis lobo terminatis.
(Long. Corp. 3 unc. 4½ lin.)
SYN. Mantis Gongylodes, _Linn. Syst. Nat._ 1. 2. 690. 4. _Stoll. Mant.
t._ 16. _f._ 58. 59. 61. _Fabr. Ent. Syst._ 2. 17. 17. _Serville Revis.
Orthopt._ 21. _Roesel. Ins._ 2. _Gryll. tab._ 7.
HABITAT: Madras (and Philadelphia, sed? _Drury_). Africa, Asia
(_Fabricius_). East India (_Serville_).
Head yellow, exactly resembling the colour of a withered leaf, and
inclining downwards; terminating at top in a spine, with a small membrane
on each side. Antennæ short, and thread-like; about the length of the
head. Thorax very slender, flat at bottom, rounded at top, and grooved on
the sides; being about the length of the abdomen, exactly representing a
twig of a tree, being furnished on each side next the head with a thin
yellow membrane of an angulated shape. Tegmina yellow, about two-thirds
the length of the abdomen; the edges are margined, and the principal
tendons by which they are united to the body extend like the rib of a
leaf from the base to the extremity; several other smaller ribs or
tendons branching out from the first, make them the exact figures of the
leaves of trees. Wings green and transparent, except on the anterior
edges, and rather shorter than the tegmina. Abdomen yellow, broad towards
the extremity, but where it joins the thorax it is narrow, terminating at
the anus in a short point; having two smaller ones above it on the last
segment but one. Middle and hind legs greyish brown, and shaped exactly
like the twig of a tree; the former being furnished at the tips of the
tibiæ with three small spines, and the latter with two; each of the
femora has a single spine to it, and close thereto are placed three
membranes; two on the fore part, smaller than that behind, which is
circular and remarkably thin. Fore legs yellow, with brown spots or
clouds on them. Trochanters flat and thin, and ending in a short strong
spine, a little crooked. Femora broad, and on the outer side thick and
hollow, with two rows of spines; but on the inner side very thin and
smooth. Tibiæ joining to the shins, long and triangular; the under side
being hollow, and furnished with two rows of {123}small teeth like hairs;
the extremity terminating in a long sharp spine, from whence issue the
tarsi. Middle and hind legs furnished with two spines at the tips of the
tibiæ.