190 



DR. A. D. 1MMS ON 



in diameter. A layer of fine earth, after being carefully sifted and examined for other 

 insects. Arachnids, &c, was spread for a depth of half an inch on the bottom, and a lid of 

 metal was placed on the top to prevent the Emhiids from making their escape. In this 

 simple contrivance the females laid their eggs and the young brood developed to maturity. 

 The only dangers to be guarded against are mould and too great an amount of dryness. 

 The moisture sufficient for their welfare was afforded by lightly distributing some fresh 

 s^rass (pulled up along with the roots) over the surface of the soil in the vessel. This 

 device, furthermore, prevented the development of mould. The grass was changed once 

 a week during the cold weather and hot weather seasons, and once a fortnight during the 

 monsoon season. The females were found to be vegetarian in diet and thrived on the grass 

 supplied, no animal matter of any kind being given to them. When enclosed in glass 

 tubes they eat their way very readily through the cork stoppers and escape. Whether 

 the male is carnivorous, as has been suggested by Friedrichs (1906) iu the case of Euro- 

 pean species, I am unable to say. The great differences in the structure of the mandibles 

 in the two sexes certainly supports Friedrich's suggestion. Those of the male are slender 

 and devoid of any crushing-edge, and in this respect bear a considerable resemblance to 

 those of carnivorous insects. On the other hand, I have reared the insect from the 

 egg-stage up to the nymphs of both sexes entirely on vegetable food. It is a remarkable 

 fact, however, if the male imago alone is carnivorous. This point is certainly in need of 

 further investigation, which I hope to pursue at a subsequent opportunity. 



Tlie females lived in captivity for 6| months after oviposition ; the males, however, 

 only survived for a short time after the eggs had been laid. 



The complete life-history of the insect may be summarised as follows : — 



Life-history of Embia major as observed in the Kumaon Himalayas during 



the years 1910-12. 



O = Egg Stage ; • = Larval Period ; © = Nymijhal Period ; ° = Period of Female Imago ; 



8 = Period of Male Imago. 



In this table it will be noted that the signs are grouped in fours, representing the 

 weeks in each month. As an example, it will he seen that the earliest date the eggs 



