Maternal Instinct in Rhynchota. 485 



brought home were upon tough eucalyptus twigs, these 

 and other twigs I allowed to become dry, but the mothers 

 stayed on and the eggs duly hatched. June and July are 

 our coldest months, but the bugs feed and move freely 

 about, and cannot be called sluggish ; they are more 

 plentiful in the autumn and winter than during the 

 summer, I have not seen one since August, it is now 

 December. I shall endeavour to ascertain whether there 

 are summer broods, and, if so, the length of time the eggs 

 require to hatch out. Summer extends to the end of 

 March. 



As already stated the position of the insect never alters 

 as she stands above the eggs — the forelegs are clasped 

 around the twig in front of them, the third pair holds it 

 just behind, and the middle pair clasps them about the 

 centre, so that they are effectually shielded above ; they 

 are placed in rows all round the twig. 



In approaching a sitting bug, or pushing any object 

 near her, from the side, she inclines her body towards the 

 threatening quarter, or exhibits much concern if the hands, 

 say, are held near, and moved about her; it is most 

 absurd to watch her determined efforts to shield the pre- 

 cious eggs ; she sidles to the right or left, as the case may 

 be, to meet the supposed danger, but no menacing in front 

 or behind will induce her to move. 



Though I have seen males in front of the sitting females, 

 a'nd evidently causing them annoyance, it did not appear 

 that they ever attempted to interfere with the eggs, 

 though it is quite likely that they were intent upon 

 mischief As I have frequently had ova of Hemiptera 

 produce ichneumons, it may be that the patient protection 

 afforded by these females is, in some measure, to keep 

 these insects away ; none of the eggs of this species which 

 I had were parasitised. 



The insects are generally found upon soft-wooded or 

 juicy-leaved plants, and they specially relish those belong- 

 ing to the Malvaceas, the common cultivated "Rosella" 

 being often attacked by them, so that they may become 

 a pest in gardens occasionally. 



To illustrate these notes I have selected various mother 

 bugs and eggs in situ, empty egg-shells, larvse emerging, 

 just out, and out for two hours, also larvse of various ages, 

 and several of the perfect insects, showing their extra- 

 ordinary variability of colour and markings. 



