204 [October, 



ditt'ering fi'uin tliat species in llie |);iler general coloration and niacnlate 

 elytra, the thickened black apical I'onr joints of the anteiniae, the shorter 

 humeral spine, and the more prominent, black, i)roduced outer apical 

 angles of the elytra. 



Iloi'dell, \\'ol<iniii'. 



Auaiist :'A.^t, V.)-20. 



NOTES ON EGG-LAYING OF PTERONIDEA {NEMATVS) PAVIDA Lep. 

 BY T. A. CHAPMAN, M.D., F.H.S. 



On July 27th, 1920, I noted the emergence of several $ $ of this 

 species during the few preceding days. The fir.st specimen, ])laced on a 

 smooth-leaved sallow, did not at once commence to oviposit, but eggs 

 were found in a group beneath a leaf the next day. A number of these 

 were side by side here and there, more or less, and all were placed some- 

 what parallel to the mldril) of the leaf. Still there was no definite 

 alignment, either laterally or longitudinally. Another batch was also 

 laid with the eggs parallel with one another and several in different 

 places somewhat in echelon, but not ir distinct alignment ; these were 

 further from the middle of the leaf, and the eggs were parallel with a 

 branch vein. 



The eggs are long ovoid, with one end a little narrower than the 

 other, and had all the appearance of being laid loosely on the surface of 

 the leaf. They proved, however, to l)e very firmly attached to it. So 

 firmly, that, having laid aside the i-emains of the batch after having 

 examined it, placing the sallow twig in water exposed in my room, 

 I found that next morning all the eggs had disappeared, obviously eaten 

 by some marauder, with little doubt an earwig. But not only the eggs 

 but portions of the leaf to which the}^ were attached, each egg by a 

 separate bite, having in most instances a hole through to the upper 

 surface of the leaf ; the egg could not be removed without taking with 

 it the bit of leaf to which it was attached. 



The eggs are pearly white, ovoid, tapering very slightly to one end. 

 The length is 0'9 mm., oftener a little more rather than less. The 

 diameter OSG mm. at the widest part. The side of the egg against 

 the leaf is perhaps a little fiattened ; some removed eggs were a little 

 ilatter on one side : this may have been the side against the leaf or it 

 may have been a distortion due to the violence in removing it. 



On July 31st a large number of eggs were found to have been laid, 

 and several flies had died ; one of these latter, dissected, contained about 



