320 



STUDIKS IK AUSTRALIAN NEUROPTEE.V, IV., 



except at the extronc base and tip. It is stoutest at its base, 

 where the diameter of the cross-section is O'Ol."} mm., that of the 

 lumen being 0"005 inn). It then tapers rather rapidly until, at 

 about one-fifth of the total length from the base, it is only 

 U'007 mm. wide, with a lumen of about O'OO.'Jmm. It then con- 

 tinues to taper more gradually, reaching a width of only ()"005 

 nmi., with a hniien of only 0*002 nun., close up to the egg. 



a During the embryonic period, the egg becomes 



curiously speckled, until it appears an absui'd- 

 looking object. This peculiar marking is due to 

 the early dcN elopment of a pair of dark patches of 

 })igment on alternate segments of the embryo. As 

 the latter is very elongated, it becomes curved 

 round the egg, so that a double band of five pairs 

 of dark spots is clearly visible (as shown in Text- 

 tig. 10, b). These spots appear on the fourth day, 

 and are followed, on the fifth, by a pair of smaller 

 spots, marking the position of the inesothorax. 

 The unpigmentetl prothorax and head lie curved 

 around the anterior pole of the egg, which, there- 

 fore, appeal's unspotted. On the eighth day, 

 smaller mid-dorsal spots appear on all the segments. 

 The young larva (Plate xviii., fig.'32) emerges 

 on the tenth day after the egg is laid. It is a 

 long, slender creature, some 2"5 mm. in length, 

 and exceedingly active. It descends the egg-stalk 

 at once, and moves ofi" at a rapid pace, with the 

 loKpiiig gait of a Geometer caterpillar, using its small legs and 

 anal clasper for walking. Unfortunately, I could find no food 

 suital)le for these peculiar larvaj; so, after fixing and mounting a 

 numl)er of them, I let the rest go free on the rocks at the bottom 

 of my garden. The only food which suggests itself to me as at 



■■'■ fStalked fj^ji^s of Sjieriiiophortlla diKsein'matu, n.sp. , ( x 12'5) : a, freslily 

 laid; /*, five days old. Piotile-view, showing the five pigment-spots on one 

 side of embryo only. Tlie sixth, smaller spot indicates the position of the 

 mesotliorax. 



I'c.vl-Ji;;. 1(1. 



