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 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.
BACTERIA LINEARIS.
Plate [L]. fig. 3.
Order: Orthoptera. Section: Cursoria. Family: Phasmidæ. (Spectra, Latr.)
Genus. Bacteria, Latr. Mantis, Drury.
Bacteria Linearis. Obscurè fusca (viridis insecto viventi) pedibus gracilibus simplicibus. (Long. Corp. 2 unc. 4½ lin.)
Syn. Mantis linearis, Drury, App. vol. 2. Gray Syn. Phasm. p. 17. (Bacteria? l.)
Habitat: Antigua.
This insect resembles a parcel of straws united together, being entirely wingless, and is indeed, but incorrectly, stated by Drury to be the larva of an insect like that at Fig. 1. Its general colour, as he was informed, is green; but having received it in spirits, it had become of a dusky brown colour. Head small and long, reaching almost to the fore legs. Eyes round and black. Antennæ like hairs; being as long as the insect itself. Body, which extends from where the hinder legs are placed, consisting of nine segments, almost as long as the remaining part of the insect; those legs being fixed nearly in the middle, at a small distance from whence are placed the middle legs.
This insect belongs to a singular and numerous family, known to collectors by the names of Spectres, or Walking-stick insects; and others, Walking-leaves, from the strong resemblance which they exhibit to pieces of dried sticks and detached leaves.