76 9. J. MC'iNTIRE ON PODUR^. 



Spirit and water (^ spirit) seems to offer advantages as a 

 medium for preserving specimens in for identification ; although it 

 does not add to their beauty, it enables several details to be seen 

 that otherwise are invisible. Besides, the organ situated in Podurse 

 behind the third pair, and extending forward between the second 

 and third pairs of legs, which evidently fulfils the double office of 

 yielding a lubricating fluid, and of grasping smooth surfaces under 

 peculiar emergencies when the insect is in danger of falling, I 

 notice, also, another piece of apparatus about equi-distant from it 

 and the root of the caudal appendage. Its use seems to be very 

 obscure, and its structure is not easily made out. Having only 

 lately observed it, I am unable as yet to say if it is always present, 

 but it appears to be pretty constant. 



As a conclusion to these imperfect notes, it may be well to 

 remind beginners that the Order Thysanura has two great divi- 

 sions — Lepismidge and Poduridae ; that the second division, the 

 Poduridje are again divided into the three families : — 



1. SmynthuridcB. — In which the body is more or less globular. 



2. Poduridoe. — Having the body, which consists of eight or nine 



segments, linear. 



3. Liptiridce. — Having no springer, or only a rudimentary one. 

 Although the second of these families is undoubtedly the most 



interesting to microscopists, and especially to the Quekett Club, 

 since Professor Quekett was, I believe, the first to give a really 

 beautiful figure of the Podura scale, the study of the whole order 

 will amply repay the labour, being almost untrodden ground — at 

 all events in England ; and the difficulty one finds who has not 

 access to great libraries in obtaining information, is great in the 

 extreme. 



Many members of the Club seem lately to have found great 

 interest in the subject, and it is to be hoped that our united efforts 

 may help to make these curious creatures better known. 



