NOTES ON UFE-HTSTORIES, h\nVJE, ETC. 177 



coarser, and is very roughly but distinctly hexagonal. The micropyle 

 is placed at one end of the egg, in the centre of a very slightly depressed 

 area, which is composed of more regular cells than the surrounding 

 parts. At the centre of this area is a minute depression, the micropyle 

 proper, with four small black points, which give the micropyle a 

 blackish appearance, under a very low power. [Eggs received from 

 Rev. G. H. Raynor, described under a two-thirds lens. May 12th, 1897.] 

 Centra fiurnla. — Of a deep purpUsh-black colour, with a some- 

 what dead, silky, appearance. The egg forms a little more than a 

 hemisphere, the flat end forming the base. It is covered with an 

 exceedingly close, but somewhat deeply cut reticulation, forming 

 roughly, irregular, hexagonal cells, which are much more distinct on 

 the shoulders and upper surface of the egg than on the sides. There 

 is a tiny central cone (point) at the apex of the egg, the sides of which 

 are covered with a more open network than the rest of the egg. The 

 micropyle proper forms a minute stellate structure placed at the apex 

 of this cone. [Eggs received from Rev. G. H. Raynor, described 

 under a two-thirds lens, May 12th, 1897].— J. W. Tutt. 



Eurrantlds plwnhtraria. — Eggs laid loosely. Somewhat cylin- 

 drical in shape, with rounded ends, a slight depression in the centre 

 of the upper surface. The micropylar end much narrower than its 

 nadir. There are 16 longitudinal ribs, which are pretty distinct 

 centrally, but lose their character as ribs towards the micropylar and 

 opposite ends of the egg. A series of raised white buttons on the 

 longitudinal ribs terminate the less developed discontinuous trans- 

 verse ribs. The transverse ribs form, with the longitudinal ribs, dis- 

 tinct and almost regular hexagonal basins over the whole of the 

 upper fourth and lower third of egg. The micropylar area forms a 

 distinct circular depression of a golden-brown colour, surrounded by 

 small, modified, more regular, hexagonal cells, the white buttons 

 absent on the margin of the depression. The inner micropylar area is 

 much darker, with a ring of dark cells enclosing a circle oi lighter- 

 coloured and much smaller cells, in the very centre of which is the 

 micropyle. The colour of the egg appears to be dull greenish to the 

 naked eye, but under the microscope it is a pale, shining gold, the 

 whole surface minutely roughened. The arrangement of the white 

 buttons is very remarkable. At the two ends one is placed at each 

 corner of the hexagons, with which these areas are covered. In the 

 central portion of the egg, the white buttons are arranged thus •.'.• 

 along the longitudinal ribs ; this arrangement is due to the fact that 

 the alternate buttons belong to transverse ribs, which cross to the 

 next longitudinal rib on opposite sides. The white buttons are very 

 ill-developed over the area occupied by the central depression. [Eggs 

 laid April 28th, by a ? captured at Digne. Description made May 

 4th, 1897, under a two-thirds lens.] 



Rcnicrophila ahntptaria.— The eggs are laid partly upon each other, 

 more or less imbricate. In shape they are broadly oval (not unhke a 

 hen's egg), the micropylar end much broader than its nadir. 

 The length : breadth : height : : 5 : 3 : 3. There is a slight lateral 

 depression on one side. The colour of the egg is, at first, bright green, 

 becoming pinky- red (to the naked eye) as the embryo matures. The 

 shell is shiny, with a golden tint, and the colour, under the micro- 

 scope, at first bright green, becomes brownish-red. The whole surface 



