128 



riuni, and the only one of which i)Ui)aria were collected, yielded 

 a parasite, wdiile the 15 species bred from larvae, but of which 

 no pnparia were collected, since all are subterranean, yielded no 

 parasite. 



I have begun these introductory remarks by saying that the 

 Pipunculidae are small and obscure files. I may conclude them 

 by saying that this in no wise detracts from the interest awak- 

 ened by their peculiarities of structure and habits. The enor- 

 mous eyes, the almost unicpie mobility of the head, v/hich is bal- 

 anced on an acute point, and which remiiids one of the similar 

 mobilitv of the head in the keen-eyed dragon flies, leads one 

 to suppose that vision plays a much more important part in 

 seeking out the prey than do the other senses, while in those 

 other parasites of leaf-hoppers, the Dryinidae, it is obviously 

 by other senses than vision that their prev is chiefly hunted. 

 One may further notice the large laminate pulvilli and slender 

 elongate claws of the feet, (which remind one of these parts in 

 some of the parasitic Conopidae), and especially the recurved, 

 hard and strong sting of the females, which is always exserted. 



LARVA AND PUPARIUM OF PJPUNCULUS. 



The larva of Pipiiuculus is an acephalous maggot, pointed in 

 front and elongate when extended, but capable of great con- 

 traction, bv which means and by rolling movements it is able to 

 make sufficient prqgression to enable it to find a suitable spot 

 for pupation. The cuticle in the two species examined is cor- 

 rugated or transversely furrowed, so that the true segmentation 

 is with difficultv made out. The larva is amphipneustic, the 

 anterior stigmata being small but distinct; the posterior spira- 

 cular area dark-coloured and very distinct, the spiracles or stig- 

 matic scars being placed anteriorly and closely approximated, 

 and the processes or tubercles, made conspicuous by their pale 

 colour, situated at the sides. The mouth is a simple opening at 

 the anterior extremity and without definitely chitinized parts, 

 but internally by dissection a pair of more or less triangular and 

 pointed, dark, chitinized pieces may be obtained. It is possible 

 that these are sometimes extruded, l)ut it is not the case with 

 any of the preserved specimens T have examined. The anterior 

 stigmata are placed a little behind the mouth opening. Larvae 

 of about one-third the size of full-grown individuals do not 

 differ materially from the latter, but only in size and shape, l)e- 



