THE EGGS. 



289 



appears to be smooth, when examined with a lens, but if the 

 shell be very carefully removed and examined under a half- 

 inch objective, or a higher power, it exhibits somewhat 

 irregular hexagonal marks over the entire surface, except at 

 the centre of the depression above, which is occupied by the 

 micropyle with its surrounding rosette. This consists of 

 three rows of somewhat pear-shaped cells, each row over- 

 lapping a part of the next outside of it (Plate 58, Figs. 

 11 and 12). The most successful method found for ren- 

 dering the micropyle and surface markings visible was to 

 remove the contents of the egg and mount the shell dry. 

 When mounted in Canada balsam, glycerine or glycerine 

 jelly, all the markings were obliterated. It was impossible 

 to obtain any better, or even as good, results by first stain- 

 ing the shells in hsematoxylin, eosin, aniline red, aniline 

 blue, picro-carmine or methyl green. This last stain, how- 

 ever, gave better results than any of the others. 



The eggs are laid in the summer, soon after the emergence 

 of the moths, in oval or rounded clusters (Plate I, Fig. 8), 

 usually containing from four hundred to five hundred eggs, 

 but clusters have been found which contained one thousand 

 eggs. These egg-clusters vary in size from one-half an inch 

 to one and one-half inches in length, and from one-third of 

 an inch to one inch in width. The averao^e dimensions of 

 fifteen clusters were found to be 21i| mm. long, 11 1 mm. 

 wide and 5^ mm. deep. The female covers the eggs, as 

 she deposits them, with the yellowish hairs from the under 

 side and end of the abdomen, which cause the cluster to re- 

 semble a small piece of sponge in general appearance (Plate 

 I, Fig. 8). In time, however, they fade, and more nearly 

 resemble the eggs of the white marked tussock moth (Plate 

 39, Fig. 15). The female deposits her eggs in every con- 

 ceivable place, as on the branches and trunks of trees (Plate 

 55), often below the surface of the ground when this has 

 shrunken away from the tree ; in cavities in trees or other 

 concealed places ; under bark which has separated from dead 

 i branches ; under bands of tarred paper or cards tacked upon 

 I the trees ; in stone walls ; under stones and in cavities in the 

 ground ; in old tin cans, on dead leaves or other rubbish 

 j near the infested trees j under fence rails (Plate 41) or the 



