5o6 KNOWER. [Vol. XVI. 



with early stages. As Wheeler (26) has suggested, no doubt 

 this has deterred many from working on such material. 



Having had the good fortune to secure Termite eggs in 

 ample quantities, I have devoted considerable attention to the 

 development of these interesting insects, in the hope that such 

 a study might throw light on some vexed questions of insect 

 embryology. The present paper must be confined chiefly to 

 the earlier stages of development, the later changes being left 

 to be described at another time in the near future. The eggs 

 were obtained in Jamaica at different times, by myself, and 

 through the kindness of Dr. Hough, Dr. Sigerfoos, and the late 

 Dr. Conant. I am also indebted to Mr. Taylor, of Jamaica, 

 for assistance in obtaining material, and to Dr. William Patten 

 for valuable suggestions as to technique. It is a great pleasure 

 to express my appreciation of the constant kindness and useful 

 criticism and advice of Professor W. K. Brooks, during my 

 work at the Johns Hopkins University. 



Technique. 



My material was fixed with hot water, with cold picro- 

 sulphuric acid (alcoholic), and with hot alcoholic picro-sulphuric, 

 the latter giving the most satisfactory histological results when 

 the acid was promptly washed out after fixation. Specimens 

 fixed in hot water and transferred into 70 per cent alcohol are 

 quite satisfactory. 



As Wheeler found in working with Orthoptera, sections 

 through these eggs are very difficult to obtain. Though 

 tedious, Heider's (13) method of painting each section before 

 cutting gives good results. A modification of Dr. William 

 Patten's ingenious method of orienting small objects for cut- 

 ting is most satisfactory in sectioning these eggs. I feel that 

 my success in handling this material is largely attributable 

 to Dr. Patten's suggestions as to technique and accuracy in 

 methods of study. 



In sectioning early stages of the Termite germ-disc, I break 

 off most of the yolk in clove oil, with very sharp needles, under 

 the dissecting microscope, and stick the particle to be sectioned 



