S. J. m'intire on the pencil-tail. Ill 



laid in one nest, four in another, and five or six in another ; for 

 some few days or so before they are hatched the embryo can be 

 seen through the walls of the egg, and the eyes are reddish, five in 

 number, and arranged in a slight double curve. When born they 

 have three pairs of legs, they are almost white when they first 

 emerge, but soon become tinted a pale drabbish-yellow. The 

 period of incubation seems to be about six weeks, because my first 

 eggs, laid on June 1st, hatched yesterday ; some laid a day after 

 are hatching to-day, while some eggs laid later are only showing 

 signs of hatching." (12th July.) 



I once thought February was the best time for collecting 

 Polyxeni, but I have since ascertained that they may be obtained 

 in various stages all through the year. These stages are indicated 

 by the number of feet which the pencil-tails possess. It would 

 appear that three pairs of feet is the minimum number, and 13 pairs 

 the maximum. This latter number indicates the adult condition which 

 is attained by successive moultings. I have had at one time in the 

 same cell individuals possessing four, six, eight, ten, and thirteen 

 pairs of feet respectively. The cast skins, representing the pro- 

 gressive development of the Polyxeni, are to be found in abundance 

 in the neighbourhood of their home, and, if carefully collected and 

 mounted, form interesting and beautiful microscopic objects. Ex- 

 cepting in the number of segments, which is variable for the reasons 

 above stated, there is no difference between the exterior ornamenta- 

 tion of one pencil-tail and that of another ; they are all equally 

 beautiful.* 



The dorsal aspect exhibits curious scales, each of which is a 

 study in itself, in transverse double rows. In the adult condition 

 there are ten of these rows, and the sides of nine of the segments 

 which are thus ornamented by these appendages are still further 

 graced by bushy tufts of erect scales of somewhat different, though 

 analogous structure. I think also, that the dorsal rows of scales 

 are erectile at the will of their owner. 



Viewed with the dorsal aspect next the eye, no feet are visible 

 the little pencil-tail glides along the field of view while the observer 

 wonders how it makes progress, and is charmed with the harmoni- 

 ous blending of colour, especially if it be on a piece of its native 

 bark, stained with fungi-spores of various colours. The skin is 



* Especially beautiful are they for some six hours or so after a moult. 



i 2 



