1872 ] 61 



Aphidoe, the lower part of the stems is somewhat discoloiu-ed, and at the same time 

 thicker than the upper part of the peduncle. Perhaps the kicking of the Aphis 

 during the implanting of the egg has something to do with this inequality m its 

 thread-like stem. 



Some of the eggs have already hatched, and it is very interesting to see the 

 voracious-looking larvae, with their enormous mandibles, slowly move among their 

 victims. I find these young Chrysopa larvae carry their heavy hind-body in an 

 upright crooked manner, that is to say, they use the last segment as a kind of rest 

 and propeller for the others. They make no attempt at present to leave the branches 

 on which they were born, although very active in their movements. 



July 16tli, 9 p.m. — I have just watched another specimen of the same Chrysopa 

 depositing three eggs on the same plant. The insect, while laying, clings in an in- 

 verted position by her legs to a slender branch, with the abdomen along the branch 

 and the folded wings directed downwards. As it is getting too dark for out-of-door 

 observation, I have captured the insect, and, taking her in-doors, have Just confined her 

 in a glass-topped box, where she is now laying her eggs under my eyes, by attaching the 

 stalks to the top of the bos. With the aid of Mr. M'Lachlan's Monograph, I find 

 that it is Chrysopa septempunctata, Wesmael. A very disagreeable experience 

 indeed, enables me to bear out my friend's statement that this creature is " especially 

 entitled to the appellation of ' stink-fly.' " The smell is really so disgusting, that 

 were it not that I wanted to observe the oviposition closely, I shovdd have flung the 

 creatiu'e away immediately. If this odour be not protective agamst man and beast, 

 I shall cease to believe in the efficacy of smells altogether. ■ It is now a quarter-past 

 nme : the Chrysopa has laid fifteen eggs since I placed her in the box. Her proceed- 

 ing in egg-laying is as follows : — before the operation commences, a slight but very 

 distinctive twisting of the segments of the abdomen is perceptible, as if to get certain 

 internal organs and their contents into the most suitable position. Of course, this 

 is a mere supposition of mine, but I cannot help mentioning it. The insect then 

 slowly curves the hind-body upwards tdl the external part of the oviduct touches 

 the glass. At this moment, a small drop of viscid liquid appears at the outlet of 

 the oviduct ; this drop is brought into slight contact with the glass, the body is 

 then gently, but with extreme steadiness, withdrawn to a distance of exactly seven 

 millimetres, and remains connected by a semi-transparent thread of the gummy 

 liquid to the glass. One end of the oval pale green egg now appears to stop up 

 the oviduct, and is seen to join the end of the viscid thread. The abdomen is now 

 again gently moved to the distance of half a millimetre, by which movement the full 

 half of the egg becomes visible. At this juncture, all movement ceases for five or 

 six seconds, and the half of the egg is seen to be tightly held by the aperture of the 

 oviduct, whde the hind-body itself seems to stiffen in a most singular fashion. No 

 one who has not seen this sudden change from gentle movement into the most 

 absolute steadiness and repose, can have a correct idea of the process. It is as if all 

 the insect's will had been brought into play to maintain the utmost steadiness of the 

 whole body ; even the movements of the antennae and palpi have ceased, as if the 

 insect feared lest some mishap might disturb the consolidation of the thread and its 

 safe connection with the egg. After the time mentioned, the other half of the egg 

 gently slides out of the oviduct, and the Chnjsnpa finally gets rid of it with a slight 

 jerk. Die egg itself is a millimetre in length, and of an oral, elongate shape ; in 



