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THE YOUNG NATURALIST. 



[March 



A few words may now be permitted by way of description. We 

 begin with the female, and remind the reader that these remarks 

 relate to insects bred in captivity, and preserved as soon as they 

 emerged. The insect is three-eighths of an inch in length, the larger 

 pair of wings equalling the insect, and extending beyond the abdomen 

 when folded. Thus when expanded the wings would measure about 

 seven-eighths of an inch from tip to tip. Antennae one-eighth of an 

 inch, serrated on the inner side, composed of about twenty joints. 

 Examined under the microscope these are seen to be covered with 

 hairs. When newly hatched, the whole body, including the head, 

 is of a yellowish brown, the back of the thorax alone being dark 

 brown. There are three ocelli arranged in a line (not a triangle) mid- 

 way between the compound eyes. The hind-wings, which are shorter 

 and smaller than the fore pair, have about a dozen hooks in the. 

 middle of the inner edge, which attach themselves to a strong mus- 

 cular bar on the inner edge of the fore- wings — thus keeping them firm 

 when extended. The abdomen is without hairs, and the hindermost 

 section shews minute projections, which constitute the usual oviposit- 

 ing apparatus, which is similar to that found in other members of the 

 family, and makes an interesting micro object. The strong brown 

 jaws lead one to infer that the insects, like the larvae, are capable of 

 devouring solid food. The legs are interesting on account of the pro- 

 jections (? pulvini) on the lower extremity of each division. They 

 are extremely muscular, and form a first-rate study for the micro- 

 scopist. 



The antennae and the colour of the male at once distinguish it from 

 the female. The illustration referred to on page 34 will give the 

 student a general idea of the pectinated antennae, the joints of which 

 are about the same in number as in the female. The dark brown or 

 black colour of the body makes the legs and underside of the abdo- 

 men appear richer than in the female, but the colour of these parts in 

 both is the same, viz., light brown. 



So far as I can judge the foregoing contains all the details which 

 are necessary for a correct knowledge of Lophyrus fiini, so far as 

 general observation goes. Microscopical details would prove of little 

 interest without illustrations, otherwise they could easily be furnished 

 from my own. dissections. 



Carlisle, February, 1889. 



