MATEENAL SOLICITUDE IN INSECTS. 583 



man, wrong; ])ut even if so, Fabre has proved nothings at present 

 beyond the fact that the females of two or three species of Pentatom- 

 inse, not particularly closely observed b}" previous authors, did not 

 manifest any regard for their progeny during his observations. It is 

 perhaps not the "good De Geer'' who ''has been duped,"" Imt Fabre, 

 who has been led astray by his ignorance of the systematics and bibli- 

 ography of the Rhynchota. 



Addendum (March 30, 1904). — Since the above was published vari- 

 ous contirmatory evidences in support of my views have been found. 

 H. Schoutetlen [26] has noticed my paper at some length and men- 

 tions two papers previouslv unknown to me. He further relates an 

 early observation of his own on the gray bug in Belgium, where he 

 noted a female brooding over its eggs and holding on tightly, without 

 emitting any odor, when seized in the lingers. 



Reiber and Puton [27] cite the case of a female of the same ''sit- 

 ting on its freshly emerged j^oung ones on a birch leaf,'"' The Abbe 

 Pierre [28] also cites his experiences of this species, conlirming the 

 foregoing accounts. 



Miss Murtfeldt [29] describes the devotion of a membracine, Entylia"' 

 si/iuafa., from Central Missouri, feeding chiefly on Amhrosla (ragweed). 

 Her observations on this Homopteron entirely accord with the previous 

 recitals. 



Finally, my friend Mr. E. E. Green writes to me from Peradeniya, 

 Ceylon (May 29, 1903). I take the liberty of quoting his words: "The 

 female of several of the leaf-haunting reduviids — e. g., Endochus cing- 

 aJcnuh and allied forms — remain near their ^^^ clusters until these are 

 hatched. The young are at flrst gregarious, and the parent may 

 usually be seen on the same leaf, watching over them like a hen with 

 her chicks. It seems possible that she may catch insects to provide 

 them with food, but I have no evidence of this." 



With regard to other insects, Barrett [30] writes: "The female of 

 the northern mole cricket {GryUofidpn horeaUs) is said to care for her 

 yoiuig until thev reach the second molt." No reference is given. 



Rennie [31] states that the eggs and 3^oung of the mole cricket ( Oryl- 

 JotuJjxi gryJlotalpa) are "exposed to depredation, and particularly^ to 

 the ravages of a black beetle who burrows in similar localities. The 

 mother insect, accordingl}^ does not think her nest secure till she has 

 defended it, like a fortified town, with labyrinths, intrenchments, ram- 

 parts, and covert ways. In some part of these outworks she stations 

 herself as an advance guard, and when the beetle ventures within her 

 circumvallations she pounces upon him and kills him." The raising of 

 the nests b}" GryUotaljM is also mentioned b}" S. S. Rathvon. (Ento- 

 mology in Rep. Commr. Agr. U. S. for 1862 (pub. 1863), p. 379.) 



"Unfortunately written Kntiiui throughout. 

 SM 1903- 38 



