13 



young Beekia loses it eyes and assumes the mature form. 

 The point is a very interesting one, and will well repay 

 further investigation. 



YOUNG OF SMINTHURUS NIGER. LBK. 



In April, 1882, I obtained some very young specimens of 

 what appeared to be Sminthurus luteus. The general body 

 colour was yellow, and the outline somewhat that of S. luteus. 

 Some days later, however, the specimens had changed their 

 colour. The body was a deep blue black, antennae legs, 

 and spring yellow. Head fuscous with trace of yellow 

 ground colour, buccal cone dusky yellow ; two oblong yellow 

 spots, one on each side, below the inner margin of the eye 

 patch. A specimen was afterwards observed in which the 

 body was all spotted like a leopard ; yellow ground colour 

 and dark brown, nearly black, spots. These gradually in- 

 creased in size until the whole of the body was a deep black. 



Thus the young are hatched of a pale yellow colour, and 

 the pigment is afterwards developed under the skin, first as 

 small spots, which gradually spread over the whole body. 



ECDYSIS OF ACHORUTES PURPURESCENS. LBK. 



Amongst specimens collected a few days previously, and 

 placed in a large flat glass cell for study, a specimen of the 

 above species was observed in the act of ecdysis, on March 

 15th, 1882. Attention was drawn to the specimen by the 

 white, bleached looking apices of the legs and antennae, due, 

 in fact, to these organs being already partly withdrawn from 

 the skin about to be cast. When first observed there was 

 no other visible change, nor any violent struggling. Soon, 

 however, a split took place along the dorsal line of the 

 thorax. The animal then began writhing and twisting 

 about, and continually doubling its head under its body. 

 These movements were continued until (as far as could be 

 observed from a dorsal view) the head and antennae had 

 been entirely forced from the old skin. The abdomen was 

 now withdrawn, as well as the legs and spring — the latter 

 when caught sight of, owing to the animal rolling on its side 

 in its struggles, was directed backwards. The animal, 

 before finally clear of the old skin, was laid on its back. 

 After the skin was completely detached, the animal con- 

 tinued for some time the writhing, and rolled about on the 

 surface of a. piece of bark. This was probably owing to the 

 legs not having recovered from the shock, and to their 

 consequent inability to obtain a footing. The spring con- 

 tinued to be directed backwards for some time after the 

 operation was complete. 



