420 Proceedings of the 



wings, which we were in use to call the larva and pupa, 

 was only an undeveloped perfect insect, which underwent 

 changes of skin towards the termination of its life, instead 

 of at the commencement, as is the case in those insects 

 which do not undergo what was called a semi-complete meta- 

 morphosis. 



It had been previously observed (Owen), that in its earliest 

 stage the insect passed a portion of its life in the egg, in the 

 form of a grub ; but this was rather looked upon as an early 

 phase in the development of the creature, and that the larval 

 and pupal stages were still passed in the active state to which 

 I have referred. 



Further observations have confirmed me in the view which 

 I then announced ; and without going into any argument on 

 the subject (for which I would refer to my former communi- 

 cation), I would now wish to put on record the stage of proof 

 at which I conceive the different facts which have been before 

 and since observed leave the question. 



On examining the egg of the Blatta (which is a compound 

 egg formed somewhat like a broad pea, in which spaces are 

 partitioned off transversely for the reception of the different 

 young insects), we find at an early stage a row of unmistake- 

 able grubs, ten or twelve in number, packed closely up, filling 

 these partitions. I possess a specimen where the grubs have 

 apparently reached their full growth, for they fill the whole 

 space, and are nearly a quarter of an inch in length. 



I possess another egg, on opening which I found only two 

 insects, but they had no longer the grub form ; they were 

 small, wingless Blattse ; one was perfect and fresh, the other 

 somewhat injured ; they were probably the last survivors of 

 their brothers and sisters, whom they had no doubt devoured ; 

 for the egg, although ready to open, had never given egress 

 to any of its inmates. I am satisfied of this, from the position 

 and condition of the eggs. They were taken from the corners 

 of the eyes and behind the ears of a rude idol-like figure 

 which was sent to me from Africa. When the insect had laid 

 them there, it had plastered them all over with a cemented 

 coating of chopped wood or straw, like a cocoon ; and after this 

 had been done, the whole figure had been rudely painted by 



