^ou?£i, ApTirrS ^oijal Microscopical Society. 207 
in most cases as long as the whole body. They are pretty generally 
distributed, and their activity is very great, especially as runners ; 
they also leap well, but they resort to this mode of escape com- 
paratively seldom. The scales are peculiar both in their form and 
marking, and exhibit affinities with Lepisma scales, especially the 
scales of Petrohius maritimus. I have found the insects at Theale, 
and under heaps of brickbats at Brixton, and I have also noticed it 
about ferneries. 
I do not intend saying anything respecting the scale of Le])i- 
docyrtus, since our late friend, Mr. Beck, has treated the subject 
already in an exhaustive manner. The insect, however, is a most 
interesting creature, and much might be said as to its beauty and 
its habits ; it may with care be kept alive for months. The species 
from which the " test " scale is obtained is, I think, best described 
by the name L. curvicoUis, from its habit of doubling up its head 
considerably out of the perpendicular position under the thorax ; 
and when in its best condition is a most gorgeous little creature. 
It lays its eggs at various times all through the summer, in clusters 
of thirty to eighty, and the young hatch out in about a week. At 
first they appear to be scaleless, but they frequently cast their 
skins, and after each operation the tegumentary appendages are 
found better developed and consequently more beautiful, till at 
last — at least, I believe so — those large and strongly -marked scales 
which Kichard Beck has delineated so well, make their appearance. 
Other species of Lejpidocyrtus are very minute, and their scales 
do not, to the best of my knowledge, differ much, if at all, from the 
smallest of the scales of L. curvicoUis. One species, which I think 
is that to which Sir John Lubbock applies the name L. gibbulus, 
has a fringe of cilia at its neck ; is rather humped in appearance, 
though not so much so as L. curvicoUis, and jerks its antennae, 
which are short, somewhat violently as it runs. It is a pretty 
insect, and its restless activity makes it a very interesting captive. 
Another species, of which I have as yet only found two examples, is 
of a cream colour, very active, only a little larger than L. gihhulus, 
which it imitates in jerking its antennae ; but it imitates the habit 
of JDegeeria in keeping its body low while running. Its scales are 
extremely difficult to resolve, and of no particular beauty. 
The few remarks which remain for me to make apply generally 
to the species to which I have alluded. 
Mr. Beck has told us how to obtain the scales; and if scales 
only are wanted, his plan is a good one. Some persons, however, 
still adhere to the old plan recommended in Dr. Carpenter's work, by 
means of a test-tube and a glass slip. I prefer obtaining them thus : 
After capturing the insect by means of a tube and a camel's hair 
pencil, I let it remain for some days in one of the breeding-cages, 
into which I alway transfer the newly-caught podurae, until it has 
changed its skin : then I stupefy it with chloroform, and drop it 
