SHAPE OF AN INSECT S EGG. 45 



chemist's phial, or one of the new bottles for 

 holding aerated waters ; and those of the dung-fly 



Vat ions forms of Eggs. 



have two little pieces sticking out at the top on 

 each side to prevent them sinking too deep into 

 the matter upon which they are deposited. 



The eggs of some insects strikingly resemble 

 the little shells like turbans with which we are 

 most of us familiar. A very singular variety of 

 egg which has often caused much perplexity to 

 naturalists is the egg of the lace- winged fly. Reau- 

 mer says, " I had observed them several years 

 without actually knowing what they were. Others 

 as well as myself had noticed that on the leaves 

 and twigs of many trees were a number of minute 



