ORTIIOTTERA ELATTID.-E. 119 



the sugar-cane, Zea Mays, &c., and are diurnal; whilst those which have 

 the abdomen thick are nocturnal, (Anti. Soc. Ent. France, 1837, p. 46.) 



Blatta lapponica of Linnaeus is stated by that author to swarm in 

 the huts of the Laplanders, and occasionally to devour, in conjunction 

 with Silpha lapponica, the whole supply of dried fish in a day. There 

 is some doubt as to the precise species thus named, as that which is 

 considered by British entomologists as the B. lapponica (Curtis, pi. 556., 

 Steph. ///. pi. 28. f. 7.) is different in its habits, and is thence pro- 

 bably not identical with the Linna^an insect. The English species, 

 as well as the other indigenous Blattida?, are out-of-door insects. Thus, 

 Curtis states that the English B. lapponica is sometimes abundant in 

 the New Forest, on the fern, where he had taken it on the wing ; and 

 that it occurs near Reading, on white thorns. B. Panzeri and livida 

 are found in the neighbourhood of the coast, under stones on the 

 beach, and upon junci; and Stephens states that B. livida occurs 

 beneath the bark of trees ; and I found the males of B. nigripes on 

 rushes at Blackgang Chine. It is on this account that I have pro- 

 posed for these species the generic name of Ectobia, adopted by- 

 Stephens. (///. B. E. 6. 45.) 



The late Dr. Heinecken published some observations in the Zoo- 

 logical Journal, No. 16., proving that these insects have the power of 

 reproducing their antennas to a certain extent when cut off near the 

 base at an early stage of their growth; the increase taking place at the 

 period of subsequent moulting. 



These insects are, moreover, peculiarly interesting on account of 

 their remarkable mode of oviposition. instead of being discharged se- 

 parately, the eggs are collected together, and deposited at once, en- 

 closed in a large horny case, or capsule (equalling half the abdomen 

 of the female), and variable in form in the different species, but ge- 

 nerally of a more or less oval and somewhat compressed form, like a 

 small bean, one of the edges being more compressed than the other. 

 Li this part there is a longitudinal slit in the capsule, each side of the slit 

 being defended by a narrow and serrated plate, which fit closely against 

 each other. The interior of this capsule is divided into two spaces, in 

 each of which is a row of separate chambers, each chamber enclosing 

 an egg ; the number of the latter, according to Mr. Sells, corresponding 

 with the number of serrations of the slit. The common cockroach may 

 occasionally be seen running about with the egg capsule protruded from 

 the extremity of the body ; and (according to De Gecr and Frisch) 



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