LIFE-HISTORY OP CROCE FILIPENNIS. 153 



2. Nina (Croce) capillaris, Klug, is represented in the collection by one specimen fro'm 

 Bushire, Persian Gulf (W. D. Cmnniing) *. 



3. Halter halterata, Eorsk., is represented by a series of specimens from. North 

 Baluchistan (Dr. Maynard). 



In the neighbourhood of Allahabad I have observed Croce Jilipennis during the last 

 three years. It is on the wing from the end of March to the end of April. The earliest 

 date I have observed it was March 28th, and the latest April 24th. From about 

 April 3rd to April 16th it attains its greatest abundance. I have seldom noticed it out 

 of doors ; the most usual situation for finding it is in the rooms of bungalows, outhouses, 

 &c, where the larval life is spent. It avoids the sun when flying and is principally 

 crepuscular in habits. It commences to fly about half an hour to one hour before sun- 

 set, though in dull corners where there is very little light I have seen it flying at all 

 times of the day, and at night it is sometimes attracted to a light. It is a feeble flier 

 and examples can be caught with ease. They have a habit of three or four individuals 

 flying closely together in a group, occasionally for half an hour or more at a time. They 

 soar up and down after the manner of the Ephemeridae, and keep to a narrow confined 

 area often for some considerable time. Most likely the habit is concerned with court- 

 ship though, in spite of frequent observation, I have not observed the sexes couple. 

 During flight the thread-like hind wings stream behind the body and are kept 

 outstretched so as to make an angle of about 60° with one another. When resting the 

 insect reposes on dark woodwork and other suitable objects, its fore wings are closed 

 over the back after the manner of those of a butterfly, and the hind wings are extended 

 backwards, but at a more acute angle with one another than when flying. 



3. The Eggs. 



The eggs are oval in shape (PI. 32. fig. 3) with a smooth and glistening surface. There 

 is a slight variation in the size among different eggs, the length varying from *50- - 55 mm., 

 and the width from - 30-'35 mm. Their colour varies from greyish green to a blue-green, 

 and they are laid singly in nooks and crannies among dust and sand on the floors of 

 neglected rooms and buildings. The particles of sand adhere to the surface of the eggs, 

 and the latter become so efficiently concealed by this means that it is almost impossible 

 to detect them unless the females are confined in a small vessel during oviposition. 

 Captive females laid eggs freely when placed in glass beakers ; they were deposited 

 apparently at random on the sides and bottom of the vessel. 



The table on p. 151 shows the number of eggs laid by captive females, and the time 

 taken to hatch when kept in a relatively cool room. 



The time taken for the larvae to hatch out thus varies between 10 and 12 days. The 

 young larva escapes from the egg by the separation of an irregular lid-like cap at one 

 end, which remains attached by a portion of the shell. 



* JTavas has recently described a new species of this genus, N. meade-ivaldoi, from Murree in the Himalayas. 

 Vide Zeits. fiir wissens. Insecktenbiol. Bd. vii. Heft 1, Jan. 1911. 



23* 



