76 KANSAS UNIVERSITY QUARTERLY. 



tion of botly-scales among the Lepidoptera occurs. These moths are 

 also good flyers, and a specialization of the body-scales might be 

 looked for on that account. But the scale specialization is markedly 

 beyond that of the rapid-flying Sphinges, whose bodies are not so 

 variably colored and marked, which suggests that this specialization 

 has been brought about by the combined influence of the advantage 

 derived from both functions. 



It is plain that the same general course of specialization from 

 flexuous hair-like form to short, flattened scale as presented by the 

 wing-scales, obtains in the case of the body-scales. The specializa- 

 tion of the scales of the body is usually inferior to that shown by the 

 wing-scales. 



The function of protection as performed by scales is especially illus- 

 trated among the Thysanura. The two genera Seira z.nd Enfomoteria 

 are distinguishable only, structurally, by the presence of a body- 

 covering of scales in Seira and the complete absence of scales in 

 Eutomoicria. With this structural difference is correlated the physi- 

 ological difference that Seira commonly lives about houses, under 

 dry boards, and generally in exposed places; while the rare Eutoino- 

 tcria is only to be found beneath stones, under the bark of trees, and 

 generally in secure and protected places.* The scales manifestly 

 protect the tender body of Seira, and allow it a wider and freer range 

 of habitat. 



Still another function subserved by the scales is that of acting as 

 the external openings of scent glands. For a long time scales of 

 peculiar shape and structure and usually much smaller than the 

 ordinary scales occurring on the wings of the males of certain species 

 of butterflies have been known to entomologists aud microscopists. 

 These scales have been called "plumules" or "battledore scales, " 

 and more recently "androconia." Deschampsf in 1835 described 

 many forms and gave a list of 37 species (belonging to 3 genera) 

 of butterflies upon which he found these plumules. He credits the 

 discovery of these peculiar scales to Baillif. Several English micro- 

 scopists, notably \V^atson,;|; Wonfor, § and Anthony || have studied and 

 described various forms of these scales. Scudder** has figured a 

 large number of these androconia. 



* For this infoi-mat ion regarding the stniotnre and habits of 5«'t/« aud Eiitomoteria I 

 am indebted to Mr. A. D. Mc-liillivray of Cornell University. 



IDesehamps, Kernard. Eecherches mieroscopiqnes sur les ailes des Lepidop teres. Anr. 

 des Sci. Nat., tome 3, Z me. Serie, 183.i, Paris. 



:l;Watson. J., Papers on plumules or battledore scales, in Mem. Lit. and Phil. Soc, Man- 

 chester, 1865; and in Entom. Mo. Mag.. 1865. 



§ Wonfor, F. W., Papers on butterfly scales characteristic of sex. in Quart. Jour. Micros- 

 Soc. 18C,S, 1K6J. 



BAnthony, J., Papers on battledore scales, in Mo. Micros. Jour.. 1872. 



»*Scudder. S. H., Butterflies of the Eastern United States ana Canada, vol. 3, plates 4G- 

 51, 1883, Cambridge, Mass. 



