THE DEFORMITIES OF INSECTS. 



83 



and beget their species, and lay "millions of eggs connected 

 together in long cords." Leidy thus writes regarding the 

 habits of a species which infests grasshoppers. 



"The number of Gordii in each insect varies from one to five, 

 their length from three inches to a foot ; they occupy a position 

 in the visceral cavity, where they lie coiled among the viscera, 

 and often extend from the end of the abdomen forward through 

 the thorax even into the head ; their bulk and weight are fre- 

 quently greater than all the soft parts, including the muscles, 

 of their living habitation. Nevertheless, with this relatively 

 immense mass of parasites, the insects jump about almost as 

 freely as those not infested. 



"The worms are milk-white in color, and undivided at the 

 extremities. The females are distended with ova, but I have 

 never observed them extruded. When the bodies of Grass- 

 hoppers, containing these entozoa, are broken and lain upon 

 moist earth, the worms gradually creep out and pass below its 

 surface." 



Goureau states that Filaria, a somewhat similar worm, in- 

 habits Hibernia brumata and Vanessa prorsa. (Ann. Ent. Soc. 

 France.) 



Siebold describes Gordius subbffarcus which infests the 

 Honej^-bee, especially the drones, though it is rather the work- 

 ers, which frequent the pools where the Gordii live, that we 

 would expect to find thus infested. Another entozoan is Mer- 

 mis albicans of Siebold, which is a very slender whitish worm 

 much like Gordius, and about five inches long. It is found in 

 the drone of the honey-bee and in some other insects. 



Deformities of Insects. Numerous instances of supernume- 

 rary legs and antennae are recorded. The antennae are some- 

 times double, but more commonly the legs. "Of these As- 

 muss has collected eight examples, and it is remarkable that in 

 six of them the parts on one side are treble." Newport, from 

 whom we have quoted, states that "the most remarkable ex- 

 ample is that given by Lefebvre of Scarites Pyrachmon in which 

 from a single coxa on the left side of the prosternum two tro- 

 chanters originated. The anterior one, the proper trochanter, 

 supported the true prothoracic leg ; while the posterior one, in 

 the form of an oblong lanceolate body, attached to the base of 



