PARTIAL ORISMOLOGY. 31 



I THE EGG (Ovum). 



48. 



The shape of the egg in the several classes of animals is in general 

 so exceedingly uniform, that a peculiar expression has been thence 

 deduced for its definition. Indeed, in the class of insects, the majority 

 of eggs are OVAL (ovafe) ; but their shape is subject to so many differ- 

 ences, that it is necessary to enumerate the chief. 



Perfectly GLOBOSE (globosum) they are very frequently, particularly 

 in several families of Lepidoptera. 



SEMIGLOBOSE (semiglobosum), likewise in several Lepidoplera ; for 

 example, in Harpy a vinula (pi. i. f. !) 



CONIC (conicuiri) also among Lepidoptera, as in Pontia Brassicee 



(pl.i.f.2) 



CYLINDRICAL (cylindricum), chiefly in such insects which lay them 

 in numbers, and close together (Gastrophaga Neustria, pi. i. f. 3). 



LENTICULAR (lenticular e), depressed, circular, and frequently 

 ribbed eggs, as in the moths (pi. i. f. 6). 



Other forms are TURBAN-SHAPED (tiaratum, pi. i. f. 11); MELON- 

 SHAPED (cucurbitaceum) ; PEAR-SHAPED (pyriforme) ; BARREL- 

 SHAPED (pi. i. f. 5). 



Many eggs are placed upon long, straight (Hemerobius perla, pi. i. 

 f. 14), or shorter, bent (Ophion luteus, pi. i. f. 16), footstalks, and are 

 thence called PETIOLATED (ova petiolata). Others have atone end par- 

 ticular appendages; for ex. the EARED-EGGS (ova aurita, pi. i. f. 17) 

 of Scatophaga putris, which, just before their apex, are furnished with 

 two short oblique appendages, that they may not sink too deep in the 

 matter whereon the insect deposits them ; or CROWNED (ova coronata, 

 pi. i. f. 19) of the water scorpion (Nepa cinerea), which are surrounded 

 at their superior extremity with a circle of strong spines, for the 

 reception of the following egg, whereby they hang in a row together, 

 and do not inaptly represent the small, short-limbed branches of the 

 horse- tailed grass (equisetum). 



49. 



With respect to the surfaces of eggs, they are generally smooth 

 (o. glabra], but also frequently uneven, or covered with a variety of 

 regular sculpture. Some are provided with lateral wings (ova alala) ; 



