714 



CHARLES PAUL ALEXANDER 



The specialized methods of oviposition in the Cylindrotominae have 

 already been discussed on page 709 under the account of Cylindrotoma 

 splendens. The species of Tipula and otr^er genera the females of which 

 have blunt valves to the ovipositor (Styringomyia, Macromastix, and 

 others) , all probably scatter their eggs promiscuously or else have a special- 

 ized method of egg-laying. Similarly, the species of Tipula of the arctica 

 group, in which the dorsal valves of the ovipositor are very large, placed 

 horizontally, and with the margin finely serrated, undoubtedly have a 

 peculiar method of oviposition, but this has not yet been observed. 



The egg 



The number of eggs laid by crane-flies varies from about forty-five in 

 Styringomyia to some two thousand in the larger species of Eriocera. 

 The following table indicates the general range in the group: 



The eggs are in most cases elongate with the ends narrowed and rounded, 

 or, in other words, spindle-shaped. The chorion in the species of Tipula, 

 Hexatoma, and other genera is blackened and in some cases more or less 

 sculptured. In Ctenophora angustipennis (Lovett, 1915) the egg is ebony 

 black with deep purple reflection, elongate-oval, uniform, without pits or 

 ridges, and measuring from 1.26 to 1.4 millimeters by 0.375 millimeter. 



