252 METAMOKPHOSES OF MAN 



in the reproductive bodies or false ova of certain 

 cochineal insects of the orange-tree, and to which he 

 gave the name of germinal vesicle.* Far from being 

 the first structure visible, it does not exhibit itself 

 till the other parts are fully formed ; the period of its 

 appearance is irregular ; and finally, to judge by the 

 author's drawings and descriptions, instead of enclos- 

 ing the true germinal spot, it always contains within 

 it a mass of infinitely minute corpuscles. In all its 

 features it far more closely resembles the transparent 

 cell of the aphis embryo than the germinal vesicle of 

 ova whose nature is established, and which should 

 always be selected for the purpose of comparison. f 



The reproductive bodies of the cochineal or kermes 

 of the orange, J and those deposited by the kindred 

 species, are all developed without any intervention on 

 the part of the male. Nevertheless, they have been 

 regarded as true ova, because they are covered with 

 a shell, and are deposited like these latter. But in the 

 manner in which they are formed, and in primitive 

 composition, they are veritable internal buds, almost 

 exactly like those of the viviparous Aphides. Is their 

 nature altered because, from the circumstance of their 

 being destined to be developed outside the maternal 

 uterus, they have been provided with a more or less 



* " On the Ova and Pseudova of Insects." — Philosophical Trans- 

 actions, 1858. 



t The reasons already given force nie also to deny the term ovum 

 to the reproductive bodies of Daphnia, which have been so well 

 described in Lubbock's memoir, " An Account of the two Methods 

 of Eeproduction in Daphnia and of the Structure of the Ephippium." 

 — Philosophical Transactions, 1857. 



% This and a certain number of kindred species form the present 

 genus Lecanium (Illiger). 



