1898.] 153 



matter taken from the ponds, I did so likewise, with the result that I 

 found several insect eggs, some attached to rotten stems. One 

 appeared almost black, but upon examination I found it contained 

 several black insects. Finding another egg, I cracked the shell, and 

 out poured a number of fully matured P. aquatica, which, when put 

 into a phial of water, swam about actively ; one male and eight 

 females were bred from this egg, and from another I bred six males 

 and twenty females. These eggs were those of Notonecta. A larger 

 egg (that of Dytiscus marginalis) produced thirty-four parasites, and 

 I have others that appear to contain more. In all I have examined at 

 least a dozen eggs containing parasites, and in each there were one or 

 two pairs in copula inside the egg-shell (!!) ; the male is the last to 

 leave. 



I have already watched oviposition, and have the larvae from one 

 to five days old, so am in a fair way towards elucidating the complete 

 life-history. 



13, Tufnell Park Eoad, N. : 

 June lUh, 1898. 



[The above short communication is of great importance on two 

 points. Firstly, as establishing the fact that one parasitized egg may 

 contain a multitude of parasites, and secondly as showing that pairing 

 takes place within the egg-shell. Mr. Enock is to be congratulated 

 on his success in working out the biology of this and other microscopic 

 Hymenopterous parasites. — Eds.] 



A FEW PSOCIDM FROM THE EASTEEN PYRENEES. 



BY ROBERT McLACHLAN, P.R.S., &c. 



During my visit to Yernet-les-Bains (Pyrenees Orientales) in 

 July, 1886, when I had the privilege of the hospitality and guidance 

 of my friend Mons. Eene Oberthiir, I collected, amongst other Neuro- 

 ptera, a few Psocidce, which have remained not worked out and 

 unincorporated until now. There are only 25 specimens in 6 species, 

 and more than half belong to one species. Nothing of special import- 

 ance is amongst them, and the only interest attaching to them is 

 that, in all probability, this is the first record for the Family from the 

 district. 



The country is far too dry for Psocidce in July, and possibly only 

 few occur at any time. I retained no special indications of locality, 

 but I remember that the greater part occurred in a fir wood (appar- 

 ently planted) more than half way up the slopes of Mount Canigou, 



