THE MICROSCOPE. 113 



it can be passed over without loss of knowledge. Antennae ; eyes 

 (having crustacean-like, square facets) ; ocelli ; trophi (most singu- 

 lar and puzzling, yet yielding important information) ; spiracles 

 (seven pairs) ; the powerful thorax ; the singular wings ; the 

 balancers ; and the ovipositor. 



The thick tieshy organ on one side in front is the labium ; the 

 part in the centre which lies uppermost is the labrum ; this fits 

 over a cavity along the top of the li/igua. Into grooves in the 

 sides of the lingua fit the maxilhx ; they are enclosed by long, 

 narrow, somewhat spoon-shaped organs, the mandibles ; the whole 

 being shut in and protected at the base by the pointed, fleshy, 

 external organs, the labial palpi. The ocelli should also be noted. 

 The metallic zonal colouring of the eyes is very splendid. 



In connection with the limbs, their massive character, the 

 tripartite claws, the apodeme, for attachment of the long flexor 

 tendon, looking like a pair of combs arranged back to back ; the 

 series of tenent hairs on the pads ; the long, plumose, tactile hairs 

 between the latter ; and the mode of articulation of the hairs on 

 the abdomen, recalling the arrangement of the same parts in the 

 Arachnida — all these points require critical attention. I never 

 had to work over an object in which it was so difficult to grapple 

 with and master the entire details. As opportunity offers allusion 

 will be made to these on future occasions. 



Head of Horse-Fly. — Being mounted without pressure, I look 

 on this slide as a type of the slides of the future ! The antennae, 

 however, should have been removed, and placed on the slide in 

 front of the head ; their form is very characteristic. Such should 

 be fixed in their places with a little solution of gum tragacanth in 

 weak acetic acid. " Go on and prosper " is the best advice that 

 can be given. Study nature, and endeavour to preserve, as far as 

 may be, the beauties present to the educated eye in all natural 

 objects. 



Selected 1Rotc6 from tbc Society's 

 1Rote^56ook6, 



Stenocephalus agilis. — Without having devoted much thought 

 to the subject, I have always had a feeling that the function attri- 

 buted to the saw-like organs of the so-called " Saw-flies " of sawing 

 a hole for the deposition of their eggs could scarcely be correct, 

 and the observation of this creature, in which these organs are so 

 very beautifully developed and so admirably shown on the slide, 

 goes far to confirm me in this view. The organs as seen do not 



Vol. VI. I 



