insect, it very rarely loses sigh t o f it, though it may cost some hours to take. I f it sees
the insect a little beyond its reach, over its head, it slow ly erects its long thorax, by means
o f the moveable membranes that connect it to the body at the base ; then, resting on the
four posterior legs, it gradually raises the anterior pair also ; if this brings it near enough
to the insect, it throws open the last joint, or crocket part, and snaps it between the spines,
that are set in rows on the second joint. I f it is unsuccessful it does not retract its arms,
hut holds them stretched out, and waits again till the insect is within its reach, when it
springs up and seizes it. This is the uncommon posture before alluded to. Should the
insect g o far from the spot, it flies or crawls after it, slowly on the ground like a cat, and
when the insect stops, erects itself as before. They have a small black pupil or sight
which moves in all directions within the parts we usually term the eyes, so that it can see
its prey in any direction without having occasion to disturb it by turning its head.
The most prevalent colour o f this tribe o f insects is fine green, but many o f these fade
or become brown after the insect d i e s : some are finely decorated with a variety o f v ivid
hues ; the most beautiful o f these that we have seen are from the Moluccas.
T R U X A L IS C H IN E N S IS .
P la te 10. % . 1.
S e c t io n . S a l t a t o r ia , L a tr e ille . (G ry llu s, L in n .)
F a m il y . L o c u s t id æ . (Acvidites, X a ire i/fe .)
G e n u s . T r u .x a l is , F a b r ic iu s . (G ry llu s , Acrida, L in næ u s .)
C h . Sp. T r. viridis, c ap ita th o ra c eq u e v ittis q u a tu o r, e ly tro rum lin e â c entra li s anguine is, alis
albido hyalinis. E x p a n s . a la r. 5 \ u nc .
T r. gre en, with four lo ngitudina l stripe s on th e h e a d a n d th o ra x , a n d a c en tra l line
a long th e te gm in a p in k , wings s ta in ed p a le b u ff hy a lin e . E x p an s e o f th e wings
inches.
S y n . T n ix a lis Chinensis, W e stw .
G ryllus n a su tu s , D o novan, \ s t E d itio n .
Donovan considered this insect as a variety o f the Linnæan Gryllus nasutus, which he
states to be found in Africa, Asia, and the south o f Europe; adding, its varieties are
numerous ; and in size and colour depend on the climate they breed in. Sulzer represents
it with red wings : in the Chinese specimens these are tinged with green. As several
species are thus evidently confounded logether, I have separated that here figured under
the specific name o f T. Chinensis.