of) [January, 



published a monumental work on these secondary nuclei in Hymeno- 

 ftera, without, however, adding any veiy important new fact to oiir 

 knowledge. These secondary nuclei are undoubtedly most remarkable 

 objects, and further study of tliem may shed some light on the structure 

 of the true nucleus. 



The development is completely unknown except for some embryos 

 studied by me in my former paper. 



The larvae of Apanteles, Microgaster, and Microplitis are re- 

 markable for the fact that they respire by means of an abdominal 

 vesicle, which has hitherto been considered to be the modified ultimate 

 segment of the abdomen. In my previous paper I have advanced 

 reasons based on strong anatomical evidence that all the older observers 

 are incori-ect in considering this vesicle or bladder to be a body-segment ; 

 I consider that it is a part of the gut or proctodaeum evaginated 

 during eml)r\'onic development. Complete confirmation of this sug- 

 gestion can only come by the examination of successive embryonic 

 stages, which are difficult to obtain. I have so far been unable to 

 succeed in getting the Apctnteles to attack Pierine caterpillars in 

 captivity and thus to get the eggs at special stages, and have had 

 to depend on material collected outside. 



J^ote on Gaufiers New Work. 



CI. ({autier (Coniptes liend. Iwxi, 1918) gives two short papers on a 

 poridd of tlie history of Apanteles not studied by me. He finds from 15 to 80 

 ApdHtvies individuals to emerge fiom one host I'ierine ; the average number is 

 .sixty. With reference to the period of lite at which the host caterpillar be- 

 eumes infected, Gautier mentions Fahre's incorrect view that it is thu Fieris 

 eggs that are attacked by the parasite ; Seurat thought tlnit it was the young 

 caterpillars of 3 mm. in length that were pierced by the Apa)Uelesj this is 

 Martelh's observation also (2). 



Gautier performed the following experiment : — Fieris eggs taken in the 

 open and kept in gauze cages, do iu)t give rise to parasites. This contradicts 

 Fabre : caterpillars of Fien's ranging i'rom 24 liours old to 8-9 mm. in lengtli, 

 taken in the open and kept in gauze cages, are found to give rise to parasites. 

 1'his means that the mother Apaiiteles is able to oviposit in Piei'ine caterpillars 

 up to 9 mm. in lenirth. Gautier confirms Martelli's work, which, however, 

 he does not seem to know. (For bibliography, see paper (2).) 



Exit or the Apanteles Larvae fbom the Host 

 Caterpillak's Body. 

 In my previous paper (2) I mentioned that the parasitized cater- 

 pillar, some time before the boring outward of the Braconid larvae, 



