TRANSACTIONS OF SEOTION D. 529 
5. On the Oviposition of Urophora solstitialis, Linn. 
By J. T. Wapsworru. 
The Trypetid fly Urophora solstitialis, Linn., whose larve induce galls in 
the flower-heads of Centaurea nigra, Linn. and allied Composites, possesses a 
very eflicient piercing ovipositor. Piercing ovipositors are comparatively rare 
in Diptera. The ovipositor of U. solstitialis exhibits three well-marked seg- 
ments: a fixed outer segment, and an inner portion, capable of extension and 
retraction, composed of the other two segments. The first segment serves as a 
sheath for the other two segments when they are retracted; it also contains 
the lower free portion of the oviduct, the retractor muscles of the ovipositor, and 
muscles which probably assist in the process of extension. The second segment 
is flexible and capable of being protruded and retracted like a glove-finger. 
The third and last segment is the actual piercing portion; it is a chitinous tube, 
and bears the terminal portion of the oviduct, which opens to the exterior 
within a short distance of the tip. The extended ovipositor is retracted by 
special muscles, which are inserted at the junction of the flexible middle segment 
with the chitinous terminal portion. 
The complete ovipositor, when extended, is nearly twice the length of the fly. 
During oviposition the abdomen is pushed down between the bases of the 
lowest and outermost bracts of the flower-heads, and, whilst in this position, the 
piercing portion is forced into the tissue of the receptacle. The ovipositor 
passes downwards and inwards towards the axis of the flower-head, and then 
gradually bends upwards until the tip of the ovipositor is finally in the space 
between the top of the young florets and the overlying bracts. The ova are 
usually placed in this space; occasionally, however, they may be found between 
the young florets. The larva after hatching bores a hole in the corolla of a 
young floret and travels downward to the ovary. It enters the ovary, feeds 
on the developing ovule and surrounding tissues, and its activities in this 
position lead to the growth of the ‘ gall.’ 
6. Exhibition of a Fossil Skeleton of Notharctus rostratus, an American 
Eocene Lemur, with remarks on the Phylogeny of the Primates. By 
W. K. Grecory, Ph.D. 
Owing to the scarcity of the material, the relationship of Notharctus and 
allied Eocene genera to modern Lemurs was long in doubt. The discovery of 
several partial skeletons in the Bridges Basin of Wyoming by the American 
Museum of Natural History affords a fairly complete knowledge of the skull, 
dentition, limbs, and vertebra. The material shows that Notharctus is a 
primitive Lemur, more primitive than any now living, and possibly ancestral to 
the Indrisine Lemurs. The correspondence of the details of the limbs, &c., 
between Notharctus and modern Lemuride is remarkably close. The front 
teeth are more primitive, and have not yet assumed the lemurid characters ; 
the molars are in pattern ancestral to those of Propithecus. 
The supposed systematic and phylogenetic relationships are summarised in 
the following classification of the Primates :— 
A. Lemuroidea :— B. Pseudolemuroidea :— C. Anthropoidea :— 
I. Prolemures : IV. Tarsii : VI. Platyrhini : 
Notharctide. Anaptomoriphidiz. Hapalide. 
Adapide. Omomyine. Cebide. 
II. Lemures : | Anaptomorphine, VII. Catarhini ; 
Lemuride. Necrolemurinz. Parapithecide. 
Indriside. Tarsiide. Cereopithecide. 
Archeolemuride. V? Mixodectini: Simiide. 
Chiromyide. Mixodectide. Horninide. 
III. Nycticebi : 
Nycticebidee. 
The Prolemurs are the lowest and more generalised of 
all Primates, and 
contain the ancestors of the Adapide, Lemuride, Indriside. 
1913. 
MM 
