SIMPLE STRUCTURE OF INSECTS* EGGS. 55 



more carefully examined by gently pressing the 

 contents of a spider's egg upon a watch-glass. 

 Mr. Kennie says, that " the point where the cater- 

 pillar originates, answering to the scar in the eggs 

 of birds, we can readily distinguish even by the 

 naked eye in the larger species of eggs, as it lies 

 always immediately under the shell." But it may 

 be doubted whether, without the assistance of 

 some one versed in entomology, many who make 

 the same attempt, will succeed. So much depends 

 in looking at any object upon whether we know 

 what to look for or not, so that things which are 

 as clearly seen as possible by the eyes of the 

 initiated, are not seen at all by any others. To 

 perceive some things in natural history, and many 

 in science, the senses of sight, hearing, and touch, 

 require to be well educated, and they then become 

 apparent enough. 



And is this all that we can mention about the 

 structure of an egg ? This indeed is all. Can it 

 be possible? Is there no striking and broad differ- 

 ence to mark the nature of the future insect ? Is 

 the egg of a spider the same in the number and 

 nature of its parts as that of a butterfly, or the 

 egg of a gnat as that of a beetle ? Surely, as we 

 should imagine, there must be some important 



