Nov. 1, 1S69.] 



HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



243 



The under surface of the hind wings is beautifully 

 marked with streaks and bars, reminding one 

 of those to be found engraven on some kinds of 

 stone ; but they are not "eyes " to our eyes. Could 

 we call it the "Rock -marked Underwing"? a rather 

 long name certainly, but expressive Lastly, in 

 this family we mention C. Dacus, the " Marsh 

 Ringlet," or the " Little Ringlet." The first name 

 is appropriate and definite. 



Amongst our blues we find that Z. Argiolus is 

 known most generally as the "Azure Blue," though 

 less azure in colour than some of the other species. 

 It has been proposed to call it the " Holly Blue " ; 

 but the larva is found also upon the ! ivy, as well as 

 upon the holly bloom, and possibly feeds also on the 

 flowers of the buckthorn. As this is almost the only 

 blue butterfly which frequents woods, it might be 

 called the " Wood Blue " ; yet, on the whole, it may 

 be as well to adhere to the first name. "We cannot 

 see why the town of Bedford, worthy as its in- 

 habitants may be, should still be associated with 

 Z. Alsus, a little butterfly occurring in numerous 

 places throughout the United Kingdom. Of its two 

 English names we take "Little Blue" instead of 

 Bedford Blue. Another small but brilliant blue 

 butterfly (Z. Adonis) bears three vernacular names, 

 viz., the " Adonis Blue," the " Cliefden Blue," and 

 the "Dartford Blue." Were either of the localities 

 to distinguish it henceforth exclusively, some reasons 

 might be adduced in favour of Dartford, but, on the 

 whole, we think the first, as generally in use, though 

 a mere echo of the Latin, the beauty of the species 

 giving it some claim to a classical appellation ex- 

 pressive of a charming appearance. A butterfly 

 classed with the blues, though not itself exhibiting 

 that colour, is the Brown Argus (Z. Agestis) ; and it 

 is to be regretted that the name " Argus," which 

 has been [applied to butterflies in a very' different 

 family, should have been used here, though in a 

 measure correct, as this species bears a border of 

 spots. The "Small Orange-spotted Brown" has 

 been suggested; but is too long, and the other name 

 is in too general use to be discarded. 



Among the Skippers, which close our butterfly 

 list, we need only refer to two. H. Paniscus, known 

 generally as the " Chequered Skipper," has also 

 been called the " Spotted Skipper." The first may 

 be adhered to, as of long standing, though other 

 species besides this are chequered. H. Comma some 

 authors call the "Pearl Skipper," others the 

 " Silver-spotted." As the spots are scarcely silvery 

 in appearance, we incline to the former of the two 

 names, though the matter is nicely balanced. 



J. R. S. C. 



Microscopical Manipulation.— Mr. Suffolk's 

 Lectures to members of the Quekett Club are 

 being published in consecutive numbers of the 



Chemical Neics. 



I 



PSEUDOSCORPIONS* 



TN my searches into dark and damp crannies in 

 -"- heaps of rubbish after those remarkable insects 

 the Podurse, concerning which much interest has 

 of late been excited, I have often disturbed 

 Pseudoscorpions, and I have felt no small 

 curiosity to learn something about them. From 

 books within my reach, I have gleaned but little 

 information, and so have been obliged to watch 

 them myself: consequently, the observations 

 recorded below, extending over a period of about 

 three years, need confirmation. 



Pseudoscorpions breathe by means of tracheal 

 tubes, which, starting from four spiracles on the 

 under side of the anterior segments of the abdomen, 

 go straight to the principal internal organs, with 

 very few ramifications. 



I am not able to state authoritatively what is the 

 exterior distinction of sex, but have very strong 

 reasons for thinking that the males 

 may generally be distinguished at 

 a glance from the females by their 

 being more slender. More than 

 this, however, I am almost certain 

 that a papillous structure on the 

 first segment of the abdomen, close 

 to its junction with the cephalo- 

 thorax, and more or less elevated 

 above the surface, indicates the 

 female. From this structure in 

 summer the eggs are budded off, a 

 process of which I shall have to 

 speak presently. 



In a similar position, the males 

 possess a vulva, whence curious 

 tubes, having at one end masses of 

 spermatozoa, are discharged during 

 the breeding season, viz., May to 

 August. I suspect the female 

 fecundates herself — it may be ac- 

 cidentally, by contact of the papil- 

 lous structure I have alluded to, 

 with the discharged spermatic 

 tubes, or spermatozoa, these being 

 scattered about in considerable „. „„„ 



Fig. 209. 



abundance and favourably situated Curious object dis- 

 for the purpose.! ^TEt.'SSE* 



I make this suggestion with male (Spermato- 



tk^ ,. . . coo at A in a mass). 



some diindence, since the opinion 

 has only lately been formed, after a long period 

 of doubt : indeed, I should hardly have dared 

 to mention it at all if Sir John Lubbock, 

 whom I questioned by letter on the subject, had 



* Supplementary to a paper read, at the Quekett Micro . 

 scopical Club. 



t This observation was made on Obisium orlhodantylum. 

 Chelifers have not been so numerous with me as to enable 

 me to speak so confidently on the subject. 



M 2 



