530 INSECTS ABKOAD. 



That the ancient entomologists had detected these remarkable 

 beings in the interior of the wild fig is very clear, though the 

 inferences which they drew are not correct. 



According to Mr. Walker, these insects are Hymenoptera, 

 belonging to the family Agaonidoe, in the great group of 

 Chalcidicae, several species of which are the " gnats " which have 

 been used for caprification. 



They were found in the Mauritius, and in company with them 

 were great numbers of another species, which he termed Chalcis 

 or Idarnes explorator, from their habit of flitting constantly 

 about the figs, and seeming to explore them. Whether or not 

 they are parasites upon the insects within the fig is a matter 

 of doubt. 



As for these latter insects, they always live in darkness, and, 

 needing no eyes, have none. Not only are they devoid of eyes, 

 but they have no ocelli (i.e. the little simple eyes possessed by 

 Hymenoptera), no palpi, and no maxillae. Mandibles, or prin- 

 cipal jaws, they do possess, and these of considerable size in pro- 

 portion to the dimensions of the insect. Perhaps the fact that 

 these darkling creatures are able to do without maxillse or 

 palpi may throw some light on the real oiSce of those organs. 

 When removed from the interior of the fruit, or when merely 

 disturbed by the laying open of the figs, the insects make no 

 attempt at escape, but roll themselves up and lie motionless. 



Many other allied insects are now known to be dwellers in 

 figs, but the complete history of these wonderful beings is yet to 

 be written. 



In the notice of these Hymenoptera in the Ento^nohgist, 

 from which part of this description is condensed, the editor 

 makes the following suggestive remarks : — " It seems almost 

 impossible to overrate the interest which attaches to this sub- 

 ject of fig- dwellers. The circumstance that these creatures are 

 without the means of vision or locomotion does not, indeed, 

 seem extraordinary, seeing they are condemned to perpetual 

 darkness and perpetual imprisonment. Of what use would eyes 

 or wings be to them ? Then, again, of what sex are they ? Is 

 there any relationship — I mean consanguinity — between the 

 prisoners and the winged atoms flying from fig to fig? And 

 there are females, invarial)ly females, with long ovipositors, that 

 could communicate witli tlie iinpiisinied. We have winged 



