THE AUSTRALIAN NATURALIST. 155 
love, and he fully deserves the eminent success which he has at- 
tained. 
Mr. Finckh asks us to say that he much regretted that, owing 
to the large number of visitors present, he was unable to do 
justice to all, and he would be. pleased to show round’ smaller 
parties, who are asked to communicate with him so as to make 
appointments and so prevent disappointment. 
Mr. Finckh was most generous in giving members of the 
party plants, ete., with which toymake a start, and he will giadly 
assist with information and advice any of our members who 
may desire to take up so delightful a hobby. The visitors were . 
hospitably entertained by Mrs. and Miss Finekh with afternoon 
tea on the lawn. 
Miss le Plastrier, President, thanked My. Finckh most. cor- 
dially for giving the members so delightful an afternoon’s treat. 
M.S. C2 M. le P., 
EGG MASS OF SMALL MANTES (ORTHODERA). 
By Miss Agnes A. BRewstEr. 
This ege mass is smaller than that of the genus Archimuntis, 
for it is not enclosed in the thick spongy enveloping tissue pre- 
sent in the larger egg mass. 
I cut cross and longitudinal sections through the smaller egg 
mass, and found that the eggs were placed in little compart- 
ments, the latter being in two rows. In each were four eggs (on 
an average), and as there were six full-sized compartments in 
each row, there were 48 eggs in the main part of the egg mass. 
The latter tapered at each end; thus the end compartments 
were smaller, each containing only 3, 2, or 1 egg. The total 
number of eges was 59. The eggs were elongate and placed 
vertically in the compartment; the latter narrows above to form 
one opening for each little egg-room so that the four baby 
mantids emerge by one common door, which opens on to the 
upper, outer surface. This narrowed door is filled in with a 
plug of spongy material which must be cut through by the 
emerging mantis, and the first out has the hardest task. The 
whole of the compartments are enveloped in a thin layer of 
protective tissue. On the egg mass examined there were cleven 
pairs of doors opening on the surface and an odd one at each: 
end. 
