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It would probably be an error to suppose the egg-shell has this little Hajj 

 provided for this purpose, though this portion of the shell may be 

 specially plastic ; but that the fluidity of the egg (including the shell to 

 a considerable extent) allows the shell to take the required form. It is 

 due also to the plastic elasticity of the shell that the remainhig portion 

 of it assumes a true ovoid form, as if no such contribution from its 

 surface had been made. 



The precise method in which the eggs are placed that I observe in 

 this species is probably not an vmcommon one in sawflies, but Mr. Morice 

 tells me that it has not been observed in any detail. Cameron says 

 ("Phytophagous Hymenoptera," vol. i, p. 30): "Some species sink the 

 eggs in a hole in the epidermis, while others mei'ely glue them to it"; and 

 again (vol. ii, p. 169) of Nematns rihesii: "The eggs are laid along the 



Kough diagrammatic sketches of egg' etc. of Thrinax mixta Kl. 



1. Longitudinal section of egg (a), showing portion inserted into fern-leaf (?>). 



2. Transverse section of egg (a), with insertion into fern-leaf (6). 



3. Fern-leaf with egg removed, showing disarrangement of tissue : from a specimen 



in Farrant's medium. These X 32. In figs. 1 & 2 the portion of egg 

 gripped by the fern-leaf maybe sho^vn going a little too deep; the egg-shell 

 is too transparent to be sure of in situ, and, when removed, is soft and limp, 

 In fig. 2 the four layers at c should be shown closely applied together, 

 little more than one line. 



4. 6-jointed antennae of larva. X by about 50. 



5. Jaw of larva, showing scoop- shape with 7 serrated teeth round margin. 



6. Portion of saw to show absence of teeth on cutting-margin. X about 50. 



7. Extremity of saw. X about 50. 



veins on the underside of the leaves, in which they are but very slightly 

 embedded by means of the saws." 



The idea that certainly at first occurred to me, that the eggs are 

 attached by some gum, appears, from what Mr. Murice tells me, to be the 

 one at jU'csent accepted by most tentlnvdiiiists. 



