Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1895 edition. Excerpt: ... e. The External Generative Organs of the Female Blow-fly. The tubular ovipositor of the Muscidae differs entirely in structure from the ovipositor proper of the Orthoptera, Hymenoptera, and many other Insects. Burmeister [8, p. 194] distinguished it by the term 'vagina tubiformis/ and correctly remarks, ' it is a mere continuation of the abdomen, and consists like it of rings, which gradually decrease in compass, so Fig. 107.--A, The ovipositor of the Blow-fly exserted. m. to viii., sixth to eighth abdominal somites; a, anal scales; c, egg. B, Terminal somites of the ovipositor of a Blow-fly, d, dorsal scale of the anal somite; st, sternum of the eighth abdominal somite; s, sternal plate of the anal somite. that the largest and most anterior, exactly as in the case of a telescope, receives within it all the rest when this organ is withdrawn within the abdomen, wherein it lies concealed.' The Ovipositor consists of four somites. The first of these is the sixth abdominal ring. It exhibits two sclerites, a dorsal and a ventral plate (Fig. 107 A, vi.), and the former, like the corresponding tergum of the male, has two spiracles instead of one at each of its posterior angles. It is united with the annuli both in front and behind by very broad, flexible syndesmoses, so as to allow of the complete invagination of the ovipositor when at rest. The second annulus corresponds with the seventh abdominal somite. Its dorsal plate is narrow, suddenly broadening near its posterior extremity; it has no spiracle. Its ventral plate is also very narrow, and is shorter than the dorsal plate. The third segment of the ovipositor is the progenital. It exhibits two narrow dorsal plates, one on either side of the median line. These articulate behind with the...
