192 General Notes. [February, 
this insect as communicating with the exterior by means of a very 
narrow orifice, which does not open directly to the exterior, but 
is more or less completely closed by cuticular ridges which ap- 
proximate to and curve towards one another. Some authors, 
indeed, report the presence of an obturator membrane, but this is 
an appearance only, and seems to be due to the disposition of 
these parts; the rod or rods found in the pit have a periphera 
zone, within which is a quantity of finely granular protoplasm ; It 
is only in the young that one can observe the nucleus, as thè 
rapid formation of pigment obscures the relations of this body; 
these is indicated by the nerve-branches; the upper appeal 
undergo a special differentiation, the exact investigation of p 
the author postpones for the present. — Journal of the Roy 
Microscopical Society, December, 1883. 
Rupimentary Wines 1N Beettes.—Dr. H. Dewitz 
that the hind wings of the Coleoptera show most dis f 
an organ may gradually become aborted by disuse, and pe 
transformation of the whole habit of the animal may be connect 
with this. The membranous hind-wings of beetles, which sè 
for flight, lie, as is well known, concealed beneath the firm horny 
fore-wings, the so-called elytra. For the purpose of figa l 
elytra are raised, and the folded hind-wings extended, so a 3 
to exceed the former in length. But many beetles do not 2 
all. In these we find the hind-wings more or less ee w 
entirely deficient. This phenomenon occurs with especi and 
quency among the Carabide, Melasomata and Curculionide, * 
also, although less frequently, among the Ptinide. 
_ As the wings are already indicated in the larva, Dr. 126% 
inclined to think that, in one or other of the species inthe i 
destitute of wings, traces of these organs would occur, at ja 
larval or the pupal stage. For four years his labors were ‘ati : 
and it is only quite recently that he succeeded in demonst Nie | 
the rudimentary hind-wings in the larvae and pup® “wi | 
hololeucus Lam., in which both sexes are apterous, t. & dese a 4 
ind-wings. The fore-wing occurs in the half-grown br 
the rudiment of the hind wing only shows itself much P ge | 
the animal is already on the point of terminating the la which 
We have in these rudiments of hind-wings an organ vancing 
either advancing or has retrograded. That it is notañ *-ecidedlf : 
organ, but one in course of disappearance, is shown most e doS 
by the circumstance that this, like all retrogressive organ ol | 
not, like those in full function, increase with the deve are tee 
the individual, but, on the contrary, diminishes. | Wer 
points out | 
tinctly how | 
ae = : 
