IX 3 
firmly on the coverglass so as to rupture the sperma- 
theca. Examine under one-twelfth inch. 
Observe the masses of fine hair-like actively motile 
bodies, if (as is probably the case) the mosquito has 
been fertilised. Isolate some of these ; they possess 
the characters of spermatozoa (Fig. 47). 
Examine the spermatheca of a mosquito newly 
hatched ; it does not contain spermatozoa. 
To Examine the Ovaries 
Observe that when the ovaries nearly reach 
maturity they are readily detected as white areas on 
either side of the posterior part of the abdomen, and 
Fig. 47. Spermatheca with Spermatozoa. Structure of Ovaries 
that when fully developed they occupy the whole of 
the lateral and dorsal portions of this. 
Drag off the last few segments of the abdomen 
in a drop of salt solution, and allow the ovaries to float 
1 
