EGGS OF INSECTS 125 



Thirty, forty, or even fifty rows of bead-like prom- 

 inences, and hundreds of transverse lines, forming a 

 net-like appearance, may be seen on the surfaces of 

 many insects' eggs when placed under microscopic 

 power. 



The writer upon microscopic forms of life and 

 beauty is always placed at a great disadvantage, and 

 labours under difficulties not experienced by those 

 engaged upon other departments of Nature. His 

 subjects are so small, so far below the range of eye- 

 sight, that he cannot convey, by any language he may 

 use or any illustration at his command, any impression 

 at all approaching that experienced by one look 

 directly at the objects named. 



Many of the eggs of insects are exquisitely fluted, 

 others are ribbed. There are some insects' eggs which 

 have a lid at one end, which the young caterpillar 

 pushes open when he introduces himself to insect 

 society. For it must be remembered that all respon- 

 sibility on the parents' part ceases when the eggs are 

 deposited. 



There is no parental hatching nor after-care for the 

 young, as in higher orders of life. It is true that the 

 parent insect almost invariably selects,when depositing 

 its eggs, surroundings that will be congenial to the 

 young the moment they are born, localities where 

 warmth and food are guaranteed. To ensure both 

 these results, certain insects lay their eggs in the dead 

 bodies of other creatures, hence the larvae become 

 useful scavengers. 



