130 Marvels of Insect Life. 



attenuated, stick-like appearance is due to the elongation of the fore-body, the 

 portion to which the legs and wings are attached. In Insects generally this fore-body 

 consists of three parts, which have definite names in entomological terminology. 

 In the stick-Insects the first section ^ is always very small, the middle portion - 

 very long, and the hind portion^ less than the middle one. The lower portion of 

 the front pair of thighs is often more slender than the remainder of the joint, to 

 enable the fore-legs to be pressed close to the head and extended straight in front, 

 thus hiding the long antennse and making the Insect still more stick-like. 



The majoritv of the stick-Insects are natives of the tropics, but several small 

 species are found in Southern Europe. Probably the best-known species is one from 

 India ^ which has been largely reared in captivity by entomologists in Britain. In 

 all the species the females appear to be much more numerous than the males, but 

 in that just mentioned we believe not a single male has appeared among the many 

 thousands that have been born in this country. In spite of this fact the females go on 



producing fertile eggs, and the breeder — after 

 supplying all his friends with eggs or young — 

 is soon at a loss to know what to do with an 

 abundant surplus. Judging from our experience 

 of this Insect, which feeds indifferenth' on 

 privet, rose, or bramble in this country, feeding 

 w is its one occupation, and this is pursued mainly 



at night ; during the day it remains inactive on 

 its food-plant. Its favourite attitude is with 

 the head downwards, and in this position the 

 females drop their eggs singly, taking no trouble. 

 Photo bv iE.sh-p.F.L.s. as most Insects do, to ensure their safety by 



The Birth of a Stick-Insect. burying them or gluing them to the food-plant. 



Each egg of the stick-Insects is contained in a hard ' . ' ' 



capsule which is much like a seed. When the egg hatches ThcrC is nO doubt that thcrC Is mcthod in this 



the young stick is a mere thread, but by the time it has 



pushed off the lid of the capsule and'got out it has sccming madncss. Tlic cggs — wliicli arc laid at 



increased greatly in size. Our photograph was secured . . 



beforethehind-feetwerefree, and shows the disparity in intCrVals, and llOt in batcllCS ai'C Separated b\' 



size between the egg-capsule and the Insect that has . ... 



just issued from it. this treatment and there is less likelihood of the 



young being overcrowded. Each egg is enclosed in a hornv capsule of a 

 brown colour, which might easily be mistaken for a seed of one of 

 the pea family. To help out this likeness there is on one side of the 

 capsule a scar-like mark, such as one finds on leguminous seeds, marking the 

 point of attachment to the pod. The reason for such resemblance is hard to seek. 

 It has been suggested by Goldi that it is in order to deceive ichn('iim()n-was))s, but 

 it is well known that ichneumons know these capsules cpiite well and lay their own 

 eggs in them. The resemblance, though it might protect them from Insect-eating 

 birds, would lay them open specially to the risk of being consiiiiied b\' seed-eaters. 

 The egg-capsules of all the stick-Insects ap})ear to conform to this likeness to seeds, 

 so there is probably a good reason for it, which has not yet been discoN'ered. In 

 the case of dixippus the capsule is actually made conspicuous by a polished, \tllow, 

 bead-like addition to the lid, as though it were intended as a handle b\- wliicli the lid 

 could be lifted. When the egg hatches the voung stick pushes oif tlii^ lid easily 



'■ Protliorax. ^ Mcsotliorax. ^ .Metathora.x. * Dixiiiiuis. 



