THE LEAF INSECT. 315 



childish puzzle called " Rosamond's Bower." Each of the meshes 

 has a green patch in the centre, and a slightly raised yellow edge. 

 Owing to its peculiar form, the insect is very fragile when dried, 

 and, unless it be carefully supported by pins and braces, is sure 

 to lose one or two of its joints before very long. 



The egg of the Leaf Insect is of very singular form. If viewed 

 from above, it looks something like a five-rayed star, the rays 

 being very irregularly disposed — three of them tolerably close to 

 each other, and the remaining two wide apart. It is not easy to 

 describe the shape of the egg without a figure, but we may form 

 some idea of it from the following simile. Suppose we take a 

 rather short and stout Stilton cheese, and set it on end. Then 

 let us cut five deep longitudinal scoops, so as to leave five 

 angular walls, and there is a tolerable imitation of the shape of 

 the egg. Now, on the top of the cheese, and in the centre, let 

 us place a conical pat of butter, with the base downwards, and 

 there is the operculum of the egg. 



The shell of the egg is very hard and tough, and, if examined 

 with a lens, is seen to be extremely rough on the surface, and 

 furnished with sundry depressions which are evidently intended 

 as openings to the fine channels by which air is admitted to the 

 creature within. If the egg be opened, the interior will be seen 

 to be beautifully smooth, polished, and of a faint pinky white, 

 very much like fine porcelain. There is little doubt that the 

 larva is hatched within this receptacle for some time before it 

 emerges. A most interesting account of the growth and habits 

 of the Leaf Insect is given by Mr. Murray, in the " Transactions 

 of the Linneean Society." 



After showing that in so roomy and well-ventilated an apart- 

 ment the insect attains a considerable amount of development 

 before emerging, Mr. Murray proceeds as follows: — "After having 

 reached the form of a six-legged jointed insect, it emerges from 

 the egg by pushing off the lid. It comes out middle foremost; 

 that is, its head and tail are packed downwards, so as to meet 

 each other. The back between these first appears, and they are 

 drawn out next ; the legs are extricated last. 



" The colour of the insect at this staire is a reddish vellow, 

 something of the hue of a half-dried beech leaf; for it is to be 

 observed that although the colour of the insect varies at different 

 periods of its life, it always more or less resembles a leaf in some 



