32 Proceedings of the 



sure must elapse before they begin to feed, they would not 

 settle to any of the delicacies that had been provided for them, 

 and fears about their starving began to intrude themselves. 



The first plant tried was a Fuchsia, but it was afterwards 

 abandoned for the common myrtle, and this seemed to suit 

 them well. Mr M'Nab's specimen never sought to leave the 

 plant on which it was placed till it was full grown and fur- 

 nished with wings, when it was found necessary to put a mus- 

 lin bell-shaped cover over the plant, to prevent the insect flying 

 away. 



The temperature of the house in which it was kept was as 

 nearly 55° as could be maintained. 



I have been thus particular in mentioning the details of 

 their introduction, in order to aid, by our past experience, 

 others who may in like manner attempt to breed them, because, 

 from the interest which the present specimen excited, it is 

 highly probable that such attempts will be made ; and I should 

 not be at all surprised if, in the course of a few years, the leaf 

 insect should be as common an inmate of our conservatories, 

 as the canary bird now is of our dwellings. 



Having said this much as to their introduction, let us now 

 turn to the insect itself, and take some note of its personal 

 appearance and economy. We shall begin with the egg. 



The egg is about the size of a small pea, barrel-shaped, and 

 with six longitudinal ribs; it looks uncommonly like some seeds. 

 As Mr M'Nab remarks, if the edges of the seed of the Mira- 

 bilis Jalapa were rubbed off, the seed might be mistaken 

 for the egg. The ribs are all placed at equal distances 

 except two which are wider apart, and the space between 

 them flatter, so that on the egg falling it rolls over till it 

 comes to this flatter side and there lies. The outside is rough 

 and corrugated like the bark of a tree, and is penetrated by 

 rows of largish longitudinal holes on each side of the ribs, and 

 by rows of smaller holes between them. At the top there is 

 a little conical lid fitting very tightly to the mouth. On the 

 outside the lid is composed of the same bark -like structure as 

 the outside of the body of the egg, and has its base surrounded 

 by frill-like projections, which at first sight one might take for 

 an apparatus for holding on the lid, but closer inspection shows 



