INTKODrCTION. 



11 



The pronotum is not much longer than broad, and does not extend 

 very far over the base of the elytra, so it cannot be F. celeris. The 

 sides of the abdomen are not parallel, thus excluding F. interrogans, 

 but are decidedly widened about the middle. Our specimen is 

 therefore Forflcula 2i^(t.^^icoUis, Kirby, and we verify this by a 

 careful comparison of the detailed description, remarks and figures 

 on p. 174. 



Bevelojoment. 



The post-embryonic development of Dlplatys has been worked 

 out by Green for the two Singhalese species, D. gerstcecheri, Dohrn, 

 and I), r/reeni, Burr. 



The young larva has a general resemblance to the imago, but 

 there are of course no signs of any organs of flight in the earlier 

 stages. The second tarsal segment is fused with the first, there 

 is no pulvillus between the claws, and the lateral abdominal 

 glandular folds are not developed until later. But the most 

 remarkable characteristic of the larva lies in the fact that instead 

 of forceps, the apex of the abdomen is furnished with long 

 segmented cerci or filaments. The number of segments in these 

 cerci varies in the different species, and also in different indi- 

 viduals of the same species, this being probably due to their 

 fragihty. 



The following series of measurements of B. gerstcecleri is given 

 by Green : — 



This table brings out the remarkable development of the cerci. 



In the penultimate instar these are abruptly curtailed to a 

 single segment, which retains, however, its original character, and 

 the extremities look as though they were bitten off. The two cerci 

 are not necessarily curtailed simultaneously. The future forceps 

 can be seen by transmitted light, showing through the sheath thus 

 formed by this basal segment, which is always much longer than 



