40 PHYSIOLOGY OF THE EGGS 



in groups, the cement is generally spread over the 

 whole, as in the instance of the White Satin Moth, 

 (Leucoma salicis of Stephens.) This glutinous 

 substance is evidently intended by nature to prevent 

 the eggs from being carried from the place selected 

 by the mother insect for their depository. The 

 Hipparchia hyperanthus y another butterfly, deposits 

 her eggs at random, on different plants. The 

 caterpillar of this insect is polyphagous. It has 

 been observed that all larvae which live in solitude, 

 proceed from eggs laid singly by the female butterfly, 

 which is provided with an instrument for the purpose. 

 De Geer mentions, that these eggs are in some 

 instances deposited with great rapidity; especially 

 by the common Moth, called in many places of 

 England, the Ghost (Hepialis Humuli.} This insect 

 lays a large number of minute black eggs, resembling 

 the grains of fine gunpowder. She ejects them so 

 fast, and with such force, that their extrusion 

 resembles the shot from a pop-gun. 



It is a curious fact that the female insects of those 

 whose larvae spend a solitary life, or those which live 

 in societies, take the utmost care to deposit their 

 eggs in a manner corresponding to the state in 

 which the future caterpillars are destined to exist. 



Several species of Moths cover their eggs with a 

 thick coating of the hair stripped from their own bodies. 

 This is particularly the case with the Arctia chry- 

 sorhcea, and Hipogymna liispar. They pluck off' 

 this hair with the pincers, which are at the point of 

 their ovipositors. A downy-like bed is first formed 



