the outer dilation narrow, semi-oval and entire (see fig. b), p. 121. Length of body 3 inches 7 lines, breadth 1 inch 4 lines. Mantis siccifolium, L.; Rosel, Ins. xi. pi. 17, f. 4, 5; Donov. Ins. of Ind. pl.(lower figure); Cuv. Reg. An. Ins. pi. 79, 3rd edit.
Inhabits ? In the collection of the Rev. F.W. Hope.
I may observe that Dumeril's figure is rather shorter and much broader than the above measurement; this agrees in some measure with the figure in Shaw's Nat. Misc. pi. 119. Stoll's figure 25 B, and Donovan's upper figure (both pupæ) are shorter; the former measures 2 inches 5 lines and the latter 2 inches 3 lines. Stoll's figures 24, a male, 26, a female, and 25 C, a pupa, are much longer than any of the preceding figures referred to, and may probably prove a distinct species, their length being respectively 2 inches 3 lines, 4 inches 2 lines and 3 inches 6 lines: they are stated to be from Amboina, but their general appearance is similar to that of the female of P. siccifolium. Stoll's figure 25 A may be a pupa of another species.
These figures differ so much from those which must be considered to represent the true siccifolium of Linnaeus, that I have provisionally made the above remarks, in the hope of calling the attention of other entomologists to these facts, that when they are examining specimens with these figures, they may be led to look more closely, in the hope of finding other differences, and thus increase the number of species, which I believe to be more numerous than is generally supposed.
Inhabits ?
Inhabits ?
