236 On Laaj), or Lerp, 



readily detected on the leaves of the 16wer branches of the 

 stunted gum-hushes in the Government Domain here ; the 

 groups of minute ova are not so obvious, and the perfect 

 insect is seldom seen abroad. It is more often met with in 

 a quiescent state, after it has cast off its pupa skin, and 

 while its wings are yet moist and shrivelled up. Its exist- 

 ence in the present state is either very ephemeral, or it 

 escapes observation by its incessant restlessness, and the 

 peculiar faculty of leaping, to which it owes its generic 

 name. 



To the unaided eye the eggs appear like small yellow 

 granules scattered in groups on either side of the leaf, and 

 unprotected by covering. (Fig. 1, plate xviii.) 



Under the microscope they are seen to consist of a 

 translucent pyriform membrane inserted into the leaf by a 

 pedicle, and containing an amber-coloured fluid of some- 

 what darker hue near the neck or fixed extremity. Just 

 before the exclusion of the larva, the q^% bursts longitudi- 

 nally from its free extremity. The body of the larva is 

 nearly transparent, except the eyes and dorsal vessel, and 

 resembles in form that of the subsequent pupa. An early 

 stage of the pupa's growth is shown in fig. 2. A thick 

 uniform cylindrical thread of a transparent viscous fluid 

 issues from the anal aperture, and terminates in a con- 

 siderable globule. 



Finer filaments proceed from between the rings of the 

 abdomen, near the extremity of Avhich are two principal 

 excretory glands. At almost every articulation of the body 

 and limbs the microscope reveals minute globules of this 

 white fluid. 



Four lateral tubular cases contain the rudimentary elytra 

 and wings. 



Fig. 2 also exhibits the first framework of the conical 

 roof. Portions of the stronaf central thread have been 



