590 MK. A. M. ALTSON ON THE 
number of beetles whose ovaries are found to contain a considerable portion 
of their complement of eggs. It has been observetl that manj' beetles do 
expire with the "ovipositor" extruded — partially in the majority of cases. 
Wlien the distal portion of the ovipositor is gentl)' pulled out by means of 
a fine pair of forceps from a freshly chloroformed beetle, the basal portion is 
seen to extend after the manner of a telescope. 
Females have a gland on each side of the seventh abdominal segment cor- 
related to the glands or sacs described in tlie male; and they are of similar 
structure. But in the females they do not meet, and from sections they 
appear to surround the tracheal trunks leading to the seventh abdominal 
spiracles. 
Coition. 
It has been mentioned that eiforts to kill pairs in coition with the organs 
in situ failed to disclose more of the internal sac of the male than is shown 
in PL 31. fig. 2. And from the examination of the oedeagus the internal sac 
does not appear to be capable of evaginating more than half the length of the 
median lobe (Sharp & Muir 10). 
In coition the beetles are superimposed, and the lateral lobes of the male 
assume an almost perpendicular position to the surface of the wood. As the 
beetles are very flat, the apices of the lateral lobes come in contact with the 
surface of the wood, and, if the female moves, as is frequently the case, 
the apices of the lateral lobes become bent and covered with particles of dirt 
and dust *. 
Notes on the Genital System of Lyctus lineabis Goeze. 
An attempt has' been made to cany out a comparative examination of the 
genital system of L. linearis. But no living speciuiens could be procured, 
and the following remarks are based upon the study of preparations made 
from the remains of the organs of dead beetles. 
Two beetles — both males — were kindly sent by Dr. Hugh Scott, and three 
other specimens — one female and two males — were found in the pupal 
chambers in oak sent from Paris by M. P. Lesne. The oak was sent under 
the impression that it was infested by the larvse of this species ; however, as 
no beetles emerged within the normal period, it was broken up and no larvas 
or pupa3 were found. 
The dead beetles obtained were first soaked for five days in water to which a 
few drops of formaldehyde were added. The specimens were then washed in 
water and dissected. The dissections were treated in tiie usual manner and 
mounted in balsam. The resulting preparations were moderately successful. 
* From a control point of view, this is of considerable importance, fur the treatment of 
the surface of the wood with an oleaginous or viscous substance causes the dirt and dust 
to adhere to such an extent as to jam the oedeagus — the lateral lobes become stuck to the 
median lobe, the median orifice becomes blocked, and the beetle is, as a result, killed. 
