124 Annals Entomological Society of America [Vol. IX, 



The female mounts the back of the male and a spermatophore is 

 fixed to her vulva by the male. The transfer of the sperma- 

 tophore takes only a few minutes but the animals remain in 

 their positions for a short time before separating. As soon as 

 she is free from the male the female begins to gnaw at the 

 spermatophore and it seems that nature has provided a special 

 organ for keeping her attention diverted long enough to allow 

 the spermatozoa to enter the oviducts. At the base of the 

 male's wing is located a gland which exudes a viscous liquid 

 which is evidently very palatable to the female for she gnaws at 

 it constantly during copulation, and is kept occupied for some 

 time after the spermatophore has been transferred. 



From the evidence drawn it is safe to say that each family of 

 the Orthoptera has a fairly constant mode of copulation, and 

 that insofar as any specialization is shown it has its greatest 

 development in the Locustidas and in the Gryllidae. 



OVIPOSITION. 



The process of egg-laying is very simple in some of the 

 Orthoptera and complex in others. 



The oviposition of the Cockroach may be considered a very 

 specialized type. Sixteen eggs are deposited by the female in a 

 horny capsule which is secreted inside of her body. Some of 

 the Cockroaches deposit this capsule as soon as it is formed, 

 while others carry it about, partially protruding from the body, 

 until the young are nearly ready to hatch. Then it is deposited 

 in some convenient crevice. The capsule is a brown, horny 

 structure which is in the shape of a flattened oval measuring about 

 12 mm. in length and 6 mm. in width. It is furrowed by a 

 series of fine annulations, and provided with a lateral notched 

 carina. The eggs are arranged in two symmetrical rows of 

 eight each. 



Egg-laying among the Mantids is a very complicated 

 process. A single female lays a great many eggs, all of which 

 are deposited at one time and enclosed in a fibrous ootheca. 

 The ootheca is attached to a twig, a stone, or to any suitable 

 object that may be at hand. In making the ootheca a small 

 amount of a viscous liquid is extruded from the oviducts and 

 the genital plates immediately begin whipping the liquid into a 

 foam. More liquid is extruded and the whipping continues. 



