CHIONASP1S SALI01S. 185 



were transversely folded together, the apex of each 

 touching the ventral surface at the base. Immediately 

 the insect had liberated itself the wings were unfolded 

 and placed erect ; in this position they remained for a 

 few seconds, during which all trace of the central 

 transverse fold disappeared. The wings then assumed 

 their normal position, lying flat upon the abdomen of 

 the insect. 



I have not witnessed the escape of the apterous 

 males, but should imagine they accomplished this much 

 more readily than the winged or alate forms. 



There is frequently a great preponderance of males, 

 of which quite two thirds are apterous forms ; the latter 

 usually appear first. They are active little creatures, 

 and during sunshine are ever on the move searching 

 for the virgin females. I have never seen the alate 

 forms take to flight except when compelled to do so 

 by being forcibly jerked from the bark, when the 

 flight was rapid for so small an insect. The wings 

 appear to be detrimental to their existence rather 

 than otherwise, as they immediately adhere to the 

 moistened surface of glass, etc., from which they can 

 rarely again liberate themselves. On the other hand, 

 the apterous form can walk over the same surface 

 and seem little impeded in its progress; it is only 

 when the moisture is excessive that they cannot get 

 through it. In searching for the female the stylus, 

 trailing behind, is kept in close contact with the 

 bark, etc., and is apparently used as the principal 

 organ of touch, and as the insect rapidly crosses 

 and recrosses its limited habitat it is probed into 

 every minute crevice with which it more or less 

 accidentally comes into contact. On discovering the 

 whereabouts of a virgin female the stylus, together 

 with the posterior legs, is inserted beneath the pos- 

 terior extremity of the puparium, which at the period 

 of fecundation is uplifted (PL XIX, fig. 3 A). I have 

 seen a male return again and again to the same female, 

 and as many as five of them huddled together around 



