BAUMGARTNER: COPULATION IN GRYLLID^. 329 



female, held by the plate only. Ten minutes after copulation 

 some males had formed a new spermatophore, but it was soft 

 and white, and attained its hardness and color only after an 

 hour. The spermatophore can be quite readily removed from 

 the male by means of a forceps. To form a new spermato- 

 phore the male goes through some motions similar to those 

 used in defecation. The female carries the spermatophore for 

 some time, in one case six hours, and it was not dropped until 

 she mounted a male again." 



My own observations show that this account is quite cor- 

 rect in most of the details. Our common black field cricket 

 differs in the following points : The female if undisturbed 

 will not leave the male immediately after the placing of the 

 spermatophore. She may remain perfectly quiet for several 

 minutes. 



A third element of this sperm-bearer, which Lespes seems to 

 consider of little importance, is very essential, as I shall prove 

 below. It is the thread which projects beyond the plate. (See 

 fig. I.) This thread slides in the groove when the apparatus 

 is being introduced. The mechanical process can be better 

 understood by examining figure 5. The ampulla lies between the 

 two pallets, which are then extended backward very far. The 

 plate lies in the anterior part of the mold and the thread lies 

 in the groove below the hooks. In transferring the spermato- 

 phore the male turns the hooks upward by swinging them, or 

 rather the whole mold, at its attachment to the tergite as a 

 pivot. By this turning the hooks first extend upward and then 

 forward and are thus inserted into the vulva of the female, 

 holding her firmly. Then by means of the muscular mass be- 

 hind, the thread and plate of the spermatophore are pushed far 

 into the vulva. The hooks of the plate hold the apparatus and 

 the thread carries the sperm into the spermatheca. The 

 thread and the anterior end of the plate are quite flexible, and 

 so they are bent and directed by the "independent piece with 

 the short stylet" which guides the thread into the duct leading 

 to the spermatheca. The "forward and backwards" movements 

 are concerned with the proper placing of the thread. 



The time suggested for a male to copulate a second time is 

 much too long. I have had a second pairing occur in fifteen 

 minutes. The spermatophore in this case was whiter and 

 softer than usual, but as far as I could see it was a normal 



