8 tick-Insects. 137 



closely resemble sticks and twigs, either green and 

 growing or brown and withered, from which fact 

 they obtain their names of stick - insects, or 

 walking sticks ; their other 'name spectre is 

 doubtless the result of their skeleton-like shape 

 and slow, stealthy movement. 



This is not the first time that stick-insects have 

 been hatched in the Society's Gardens. About 

 four years ago several specimens of one of the 

 large Asiatic species were kept safely through all 

 their stages and arrived at maturity, and one at 

 least of them deposited her eggs, and we have it on 

 the authority of the keeper of the Insectorium, 

 who observed the insects closely while under his 

 charge, that the process was most peculiar. The 

 eggs, as is the case in all the family, were deposited 

 singly ; but, instead of being dropped directly on 

 the ground on which the animal was resting, they 

 were jerked forward over its head by an upward 

 and forward movement of the end of the abdomen. 

 As we have said, a considerable number of the 

 insects have now been safely hatched, and, there- 

 fore, we have every reason to hope that some at 

 least will grow to maturity, in which case it will be 

 extremely interesting to watch their development, 

 and we may further hope that one or two at least 

 may safely deposit their eggs, from which in turn 

 a new generation may be brought forth. 



