Beproduction of the Hmiiptera-Cryptoccrata. 89 



One of the chief peculiarities of the Ncpidai is that 

 they are provided with a siphon at the posterior end 

 of the body. This is composed of two setae arising from 

 the dorsal side of the apex of the abdomen and having 

 their inner grooved surfaces, which are provided with a 

 double row of sette forming a trough-like channel, closely 

 ad pressed, so that a perfect tube is formed, the distal end 

 of which communicates with the air, and the proximal end 

 with the single pair of large stigmata. 



The chief interest in the copulatory process of Neim lies 

 in the metliod of disposition of these setse, so that the male 

 and female genital organs may be in coitu, and at the 

 same time both individuals may receive a supply of air for 

 respiratory purposes. 



The male bends down the end of its abdomen under- 

 neath that of tlie female so that the coitus can take place. 

 This awkward position causes the proximal ends of the 

 seta3 forming the respiratory siphon to separate somewhat, 

 but they are brought in as close juxtaposition as possible ; 

 the distal end communicates with the air as in the female, 

 the siphons of both male and female are in close proximity. 

 In the individuals observed, copulation took place in the 

 evening and lasted till the following day. 



It was interesting to note that the female during copu- 

 lation did not seem to mind the presence of the male in 

 the least, and continued feeding. Prof, Poulton observed 

 the same phenomenon in Pezotcttix pedestris.^ 



CORIXA. 



Several species were placed in an aquarium in order to 

 obtain their eggs. Copulation takes place by the male 

 clinging to the back of the female by means of the first 

 two pairs of legs ; the female swims about with the male 

 in this jiosition, and copulation lasts several hours. 



The female begins to deposit her eggs the following day. 

 The species under observation were provided with growing 

 plants of Hottonia, and they deposited their eggs on these 

 singly, in all positions, a short time elapsing the deposition 

 of each egg, sometimes as much as an hour, but of course 

 they were not under entirely natural conditions. In de- 

 positing an egg, the female grasps the leaflet or portion of 

 the plant selected with the first two pairs of legs and then 



* Trans. Ent. Soc. Lond., 1896, p. 237. 



