260 LETTERS TO MR. JANSON [CHAP. xxn. 



in clusters (from Strathconan forest, Ross-shire). On 

 examining, I found on each side, at the hinder edge of the 

 thorax, a little membranous kind of structure with a scal- 

 loped edge, and on very carefully raising it I found it was 

 fixed to the thorax by a joint, and was, I think, quite 

 certainly an abortive wing. I saw veins traversing the 

 structure longitudinally, and though the scalloped and 

 notched extremity was irregular in shape, it did not at all 

 have the appearance (to my thinking at least) of being torn. 

 Enclosed I send you half a dozen specimens, one of which 

 has the structure very plain ; the others I picked out at 

 random, and what I am very much wishing you would help 

 me about is whether these are females. They have the dis- 

 tinguishing dark brown colour (not the faint yellow 

 colour of the male), and I should say they had the 

 shape of the female, but I am not anatomist enough to be 

 certain. If you cannot with complete convenience tell me 

 yourself could you oblige by getting me a trustworthy 

 opinion. I would most gladly give a most liberal considera- 

 tion to any one you would get to investigate, for if these 

 are females, we have here the long-wanted observation, and 

 proof that they have abortive wings. I have plenty more 

 specimens if you would care for some more ; also I have two 

 puparia. 



February 23, 1897. 



I am greatly obliged to you for helping me in this matter 

 of the L. cervi. You will remember that you kindly helped 

 me to a sight of a good number of German publications, 

 from which I made large extracts, and, turning to these, I 

 find notes of the male and of the female L. cervi, being 

 found together in the hair of the deer all the winter through, 

 and pairing there and the female depositing puparia. But 

 the matter is much involved by the following statement 

 regarding two varieties in the form of the males by Professor 

 Stein, or Hartmann quoted by Stein : " The first are pale 

 yellow, and the abdomen is slender and shrivels considerably 

 after death; the latter are more yellow brown, their abdomen 

 is wider and firmer, and the external organs of propagation 

 clearly observable." There is a deal about abortive or shed 

 wings, but the writers are under uncertainty. My belief is 

 that our only hope towards clearing up the matter is our 

 own observation, and if these creatures are really females, 

 we have got the information that was being sought after. 

 But do not let me tax your very great good nature too much. 

 If you could give a specimen or two to Mr. Verrall and to 



