PARTHENOGENETTC TENDENCY IN MELANOOERA MENIPPE. 277 



It may be noticed that (1) the average number o£ eggs laid 

 by the unpaired menippe was only thirty-two, but by the 

 paired moths it was 129; (2) with unpaired moths the per- 

 centages of eggs reaching the 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th stages of 

 development were 4"1 per cent., 2*1 per cent., per cent., and 

 per cent, respectively ; while with the paired moths the 

 percentages were about 22 per cent., 9 per cent., 7 per cent., 

 and 0"1 per cent, respectively. 



On examining these two series it was believed at first that 

 the eggs of the paired moths had been duly fertilised with 

 the exception of those of No. 6, in which the amount of 

 development exhibited by the eggs was almost negligible. It 

 was expected that the single larva which hatched would 

 exhibit on close examination characters intermediate between 

 those of menippe and maia. 



The eggs remaining in the abdomen of some of the paired 

 moths were examined five weeks after death. In No. 3 (see 

 table, p. 276) sixteen eggs were found ; one close to the 

 external aperture coutained an embryo in Stage 3, three were 

 in Stage 2, and twelve showed no sign of development. The 

 twelve eggs were placed anteriorly in the abdomen. 



In No. 5 three anteriorly placed eggs were found, and these 

 showed no sign of development. 



In No. 13 two eggs were in Stage 2, and thirty-six showed 

 no sign. 



The eggs which occurred in the middle and front regions 

 of the abdomen were thin-shelled ; and in some cases the yolk 

 was dry, but in an undecomposed condition. 



It is possible that in No. 3 the eggs which exhibited develop- 

 ment had come into contact with the stimulating semen of the 

 male in the body of the female, although ihey were not 

 actually laid. 



