HANCOCK 19 



By undergoing a spreading and closing process, this instru- 

 ment, composed of two pairs of serrulate blades, Fig. 3, sepa- 

 rates the particles readily, while at the same time the boring is 

 facilitated by turning the abdomen upon the long axis of the 

 body. The ovipositor is carried down to its utmost depth in 

 the ground by lengthening of the abdomen. It not infre- 

 quently happens that just before and during ovipositing the 

 male is found on the female's back. During this time of egg- 

 laying the front and middle pairs of legs are so raised that she 

 stands on "tip-toe," while the hind legs are drawn up to the 

 sides, out of the way, taking no part whatever in the process. 

 As will be noted in the sequence the time consumed in ovipos- 

 iting varies, one hour being an average in Tcttix. 



APPEARANCE OF EGGS. 



Plate XL, Figures 2--3a. 



In Tettix ornatiis triangularis the ^'g'g is elongate, one and 

 three quarters of a millimeter in length, slightly curved in its 

 long axis. It is one-third as wide as its length, without the 

 narrow extremity. The posterior extremity or pole is obtusely 

 rounded, the anterior pole slightly smaller, and here it is sud- 

 denly reduced into a small, rather acute, extended and some- 

 times curved process. The eggs of Tcttigidea parvipemiis 

 differ from Tettix in being more "wine-bottle" form, and 

 larger; the width is contained five times in the total length, 

 the e.gg being rather straight in the long axis, and beginning 

 a little before the middle, being more gradually attenuated 

 toward the anterior pole, where, near the end, it is a little 

 more suddenly reduced. The anterior pole is not so acutely 

 pointed as in Tcttix. The posterior pole is obtusely rounded. 



When recently laid, the eggs are a beautiful pinkish white, 

 but after more advanced incubation they turn to a more 

 opaque greenish yellow-white. 



