198 



NATURAL HISTORY. [cH. XIII. 



insect had made a hole in an oblique direction to 

 the pith of the branch, she withdrew the instrument 



a little way, and deposited an egg through the tube in 

 the punch. This was repeated until from ten to 

 twenty eggs were deposited on each side of the 

 centre of the pith, the centre wood having been 

 previously comminuted and cut up, so as to make a 

 soft bed for the eggs, and afford food for the em- 

 bryo until it was hatched. There was daily an evi- 

 dent increase in the size of the eggs until they 

 were hatched, and an evident diminution of the 

 comminuted woody fibres and enlargement of the 

 cells containing the eggs, so that they must have 

 derived some sustenance from the juices of the 

 twig. Another proof that they did so was, that 

 the eggs invariably perished in those branches 

 which withered and dried up soon after the punc- 

 tures were made. This work continued from day 

 to day, until the female had expended her stock of 

 eggs, which, so far as our author ascertained, 



