392 TRANSMISSION 



The egg cavity was cylindrical, with a rounded bottom, and by measure- 

 ment was found to be 0.04 inch in depth. The egg when deposited very 

 nearly filled the cavity. 



The second observation of the complete process was nearly identical 

 with the one described. The insect spent no time in choosing the exact 

 spot, but went to work at once. It worked in a more leisurely way and did 

 not excavate as deep an egg cavity. Eleven minutes were spent on the 

 cavity, two minutes in depositing the egg, two in rest, and four in cutting 

 the crescent, a total of nineteen minutes. The egg cavity measured 0.035 

 inch in depth and was completely filled by the egg. On completion of the 

 process the insect moved a short distance and immediately began a second 

 cavity. 



Essential differences from procedure in the two preceding cases were 

 noted in the third complete observation. Excavation of the egg cavity was 

 the same, except that it was deeper in the pulp and of greater extent. After 

 depositing the egg the beetle turned, and with her beak worked the egg 

 back to the bottom of the cavity. Then she began tearing off bits of skin 

 and pulp, which were carefully packed in, above the egg, tmtil the cavity was 

 full. 1 Following this, the crescent was cut in much the same manner as in 

 the preceding cases. Then she appeared to make a final inspection, and 

 added some further packing above the egg. Finally the work appeared to 

 be satisfactory and she walked away and began a second puncture. The 

 time consumed in this process was longer than in the others, and was divided 

 as follows : 



Excavating egg cavity . . . . . . .12 minutes 



Depositing egg i^ minutes 



Placing the egg with the beak .... 2 minutes 



Packing the cavity 4 minutes 



Cutting the crescent 4 minutes 



Finishing touches 3 minutes 



Total 26^ minutes 



Among the many cases where only part of the process was observed 

 some anomalies were noted. In two cases the insect walked away im- 

 mediately after depositing the egg and made no crescent cut. In three 

 cases beetles were seen to cut crescents and, moving a short distance, 

 begin other punctures. These crescents had no egg cavities and no eggs 

 were deposited in them. In two cases eggs were found deposited directly 

 in crescent cuts, neither of which had the usual egg cavity. Marked varia- 

 tion in depth of the egg cavity was frequently observed. Not infrequently 

 the cavity is so shallow that the tip of the egg protrudes, and sometimes 

 its depth is nearly equal to twice the length of the egg. Packing the egg 

 cavity with pieces of pulp is a common, but not universal, practice; often 

 this is neglected, even where the cavity is deep. . . . 



1 Italics are mine. 



