48 Mr. S. S. Saunders's Description of 



body of the Hymenopterous insect; and, consequently, that those 

 Xenos males which had become transformed into pupae on the 

 dorsal region of the Polistes gallica, emerged from their pupa- 

 cases with the ventral side uppermost." 



Notwithstanding the frequent opportunities of noticing so 

 anomalous a proceeding, which have from time to time presented 

 themselves, no mention of such a circumstance appears among 

 the observations hitherto recorded in connection with the ultimate 

 ecdysis of Strepsipterous parasites ; nor can I supply any corrobora- 

 tive testimony on the present occasion; for whenever I have seen 

 any of these parasites produced, or have extracted them from their 

 pupa-cases, I should say (speaking from recollection) that their 

 position was the reverse of that described by Dr. Siebold, and 

 as such, not calling for remark. Dr. Siebold's expositions upon 

 this point are however so precise, and his opinions entitled to so 

 much weight, that all controversial discussion upon the subject 

 must resolve itself into a careful comparison of facts ; the more 

 especially as it was long since remarked by Dr. Peck, that, in the 

 American species which bears his name, " the head of the larva 

 was, in the feeding state, turned towards the base of the abdomen 

 of the wasp;" this direction being subsequently reversed prior to 

 its exit (those found by J urine, as before stated, being in this 

 position); so that, supposing the larva to double back upon itself 

 for such purpose, in close contiguity along the upper abdominal 

 region, as appearances would seem to indicate, the natural result 

 of this proceeding would be, to subvert its original position 

 within the body ; which the male might afterwards rectify within 

 the pupa-case.* Analogy moreover would seem to lead to the 

 conclusion, that the oviduct being situated on the convex upper 

 surface of the cephalo-thorax in the females, this position is more 

 appropriately ascribed to the ventral than to the dorsal region. 



With all its superior organization — exhibiting so marked a 

 contrast with the hapless condition of its secluded partner— the 

 delicate conformation of the male throughout this tribe, at once 

 suggests that ephemeral existence which the concurrent testimony 

 of all observers has served to confirm; whereas the functions de- 

 volving upon the viviparous female until her hexapod progeny 

 have acquired their preliminary development, necessarily imply a 

 more prolonged, and, in some cases protracted, career ; suscep- 



* Some pupae perform a series of evolutions within. (Vid. Ichn.-gyralor, 

 Ann. Soc. Ent. de France, Tome 9, p. 43.) 



