22 LICE AND THEIR MENACE TO MAN 



means orientates the egg so that the cement flows 

 round the particular anchorage with which it is 

 dealing. If this should be a hair the result is 

 that almost invariably the egg lies with its axis 

 parallel to that of the hair and consequently it 



FIG. 5. EGG OF Bony-LousE ATTACHED FIG. 6. EGG OF CRAB-LOUSE 

 TO FIBRES OF CLOTH, (x 50.) ON PUBIC HAIR, (x 60.) 



is less liable to be dislodged. The eggs are gener- 

 ally laid in clusters, for there is a well-marked 

 tendency for the insect to return to the same spot 

 to lay, though it may wander far in the mean- 

 time. The egg is white in colour and has a 

 pearly sheen. It is rather translucent when 



