LETTER XLII. 



INTERNAL ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY 

 OF INSECTS, CONTINUED. 



REPRODUCTION. 



1 HE reproductive organs of insects in their general de- 

 nominations and functions correspond with those of the 

 higher classes of animals; but as to number, proportions, 

 and other particular details of their structure, they differ 

 from them very considerably. I shall not now, however, 

 enter at large upon this subject, but confine myself prin- 

 cipally to the consideration of those organs in the female 

 which are appropriated to the formation, fecundation, 

 maturation, exclusion and deposition of their eggs, and 

 other circumstances relating to that subject. The organs 

 connected with this function are the Sperm-reservoir; 

 the Oviduct ; the^Ovaries ; and the Ovipositor. 



I. The Sperm-reservoir (Spermatheca] is an organ con- 

 necting the vagina with the oviduct, which, according to 

 Herold, receives the male sperm as into a reservoir a , and 

 fecundates the eggs in their transit through that passage. 

 This vessel, which consists of a double tunic, in the cab- 

 bage-butterfly terminates the vagina, and is connected 

 with the oviduct by a lateral undulating tube: in shape 

 it is a rather irregular oblong, and is surmounted by a 

 '"' Herold SchmcltcrL tab. expl. vii. 



