Makch 1, 1S67.] HAPDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



57 



ever, been mounted for sale, but they well merit 

 attention"; and though on close examination their 

 markings are found to be similar to those on 

 the test scale, omitting all consideration of the 



1 



I 



fciti.Tll 



w 



Fig. 44. Damaged Scale of Speckled Podura, opaque ; 

 i objective, B eyepiece and Beck's patent illuminator. 



striae, yet at the first glance most persons to whom 

 I have shown them seem to have a difficulty in 

 recognising them as Podura scales at all. 



1 .11 V W ■■'Tiff : W ft 



iffiii 

 ■ Pi 



Fig. 45. Scale of Speckled Podura, by reflected light, small 

 side ; condensing lens, J objective, C eyepiece. 



About the 6th of June nine of these insects were 

 inclosed in a cell, and on the 16th I noticed that 

 about sixty globular eggs were laid. On the 24th 

 of the same month, the eyes of the contained young 

 might be perceived through the shells, which burst 

 on the 27th, and permitted the young to make their 

 exit. 



These are lively from the first, and resemble their 

 parents in all, saving that they appear to be very 

 delicate and destitute of scales. 



While the young of the black Podura; seemed to 

 be quite comfortable in the damp cell, these ap- 

 peared soon after to be in an unhealthy condition, 



and many died. I therefore liberated those re- 

 maining in the cellar whence their parents were 

 obtained, lest the species should be exterminated. 

 I have tried several times since, without success, to 

 keep this species in confinement : they always pine 

 away and die ; and though they will eat oatmeal, 

 they do so but sparingly. 



* The progeny of b oth kinds of Podura were very 

 numerous in their native haunts on the 1st of 

 October. Possibly the dampness of the past sum- 

 mer had promoted their increase. In several places 

 the under sides of certain boards swarmed with the 

 black species, and their exuviae were equally 

 abundant in the same situations. 



Fig. 46. White Podura {Lepidocyrtus Albinos?). 



I have lately noticed another Podura — pearly- 

 white in colour, with red eyes, small, having rather 

 long antenna;, and furnished besides with long hairs 

 somewhat like the speckled. I am told its name 

 is Lepidocyrtus Albinos, and that it is the smallest 



Fig. 47. Scale of White Podura ; \ objective, A eyepiece. 



of the scale-bearing Podura;. It seems to be very 

 partial to the vicinity of flower-pots, and under- 

 neath them it may often be found. One specimen 

 was damaged in being captured, two of the joints of 

 one antenna being broken ; but in the course of 

 ten days the damage was repaired, and the one 

 antenna was almost the counterpart of the other. 

 The scales, which were first described to me by the 

 late lamented Mr. Richard Beck, are very thin ; 

 but notwithstanding this the markings are very 



