MODii OF KGG-LAYING 



9 



the soil in a closed position and then separated as shown 

 in the lif^ure. Thus the soil is shoved outward and the 

 cavity made. As these valves work only in one plane, it 

 is clear that they could make an approximately round 

 hole, only if they could be rotated so as to press in all 

 directions, and this is what actually takes place. The 

 whole posterior end of the body is capable of twisting 

 laterally through 180", so that the posterior pair of valves 

 come to lie anteriorly and vice versa. As soon as the 

 proper depth has been reached, the grasshopper proceeds 

 to enlarge the lower portion of the hole and make the 

 walls smooth and firm for the 

 reception of the egg-mass. This 

 is done with great care by 

 means of pressure from the 

 extended valves, as nmch as 

 twenty minutes' time being 

 occupied in this way. 



When the egg-chamber has 

 been properly formed, the egg- 

 laying itself begins. It is sig- 

 nalled by a convulsive move- 

 ment of the valves and the 

 posterior part of the body, and 

 the appearance between the 

 valves of a clear fluid much 

 resembling white of egg in con- 

 sistency which, as it is expelled, 

 is quickly worked up into a 

 white froth by the movement 

 of the valves. When a small 

 amount of this frothy material 



has been deposited on the bottom of the chamber, the con- 

 vulsive movements of the valves stop, the posterior pair 

 of valves separate from the anterior pair and the tip of 

 the egg appears in the space between them, just extending 

 beyond the tips of the valves themselves (see Text-fig. 3A). 

 The posterior pair of valves are then quickly brought for- 

 ward around the end of the egg and approximated to the 

 anterior. At this stage, the egg lies clasped between the 

 two posterior valves in the position figured by Riley in the 

 above-cited work (see also Text-fig. 3B). It is then forced 

 out into the frothy matter at the bottom of the egg- 



Text-fig. 3. 



Posterior end of female of Kice 

 Grasshopper to show manner of exit 

 of ej;g. A. First staffe, in which egg 

 appears hetween dorsal and ventral 

 pairs of ovipositors. B. Second stage, 

 in which dorsal ovipositors have 

 moved down and grasped the egg he- 

 tween them. 



