immature egg. When the egg had been laid a distinct life, that of 

 the embrj'O, commenced in it. Externally the egg appeared to consist 

 of a horny shell, which got hard after exposure to the air. Beneath 

 the external membrane lay a second and more delicate one, which 

 formed the case of the fluid contained in the egg. The fluid was the 

 yolk, which was stated chemically to consist of albumen, animal glue, 

 yellow fat, and sulphate and phosphate of natron. According to 

 Suckon's observations, a small dark spot was formed in the centre of 

 the originally tolerably clear yolk, which was the sign of the 

 commencement of the embryo. After a short time the em- 

 brjo appeared as a half moon shaped body, at the end of 

 which the head was already perceived. The embryo swam in 

 a bright green but clear fluid, and was enclosed by two other 

 membranes besides the shell Michelotti's experiments ("quoted by 

 Burmeister) upon the eggs of L. Dispar and L. Mart had proved that 

 the eggs during their development decomposed air, viz., imbibed 

 oxygen and gave out carbonic acid, but only in a temperature of from 

 15° to 20° (Reaumur). As the embryo increased in size, its external 

 formation could be seen through the egg shell. Burmeister stated 

 that the sexual organs might be observed during the last few days of 

 the embryo period and presented themselves in both sexes as small 

 knobs. 



The commencement of the nervous system consisted of two 

 extremely delicate, scarcely perceptible filaments, into which the 

 nei^vous matter by degrees accumulated. The muscular layers beneath 

 the skin were also indicated, and particularly the head, with its 

 mandibles, the legs, and the anal horn. 



The matured embrj-o, in its convoluted position, might imme- 

 diately before its development into the larval state be seen through 

 the thin egg shell. After these evolutions the young larva bored its 

 way through the egg shell, immediately commencing its first and most 

 important occupation, eating. The first meal was very frequently the 

 egg shell from which the larva had just emerged . 



The President (Mr. J. Dennant), on behalf of the members of 

 the Society, thanked Mr. Goss for his paper, and hoped it would not 

 be the last they would hear from him. 



Mr. T. W. WONFOR mentioned that, in 1869, some female 

 bullet galls which had been reared in the British Museum were 



