358 THE “ BROWN SCALE," 
dies. This insect has sometimes been observed iu Coffee estates, pre- 
vious to the appearance of the Scale; but there is evidently no con- 
nection between them. 
So far as I have been able to ascertain, the Coffee-trees of the 
island were never affected with the **scale" till the year 1843, when 
Capt. Robertson first observed it on a few Coffee-bushes on his estate 
called Lapallagalla. This estate, together with a few others, is situated 
immediately on the western boundary of the great central mountain 
range overlooking the country of the Four Korles, and the tract is 
known by the name of the Muruta district. Since then the pest has 
been gradually progressing eastward through the Dolishagie, Ambe- 
gamoa, Kotmalu, Pusilana, Delotte, Humisgiria, and Kunckles districts, 
but having only appeared within the last two years in the latter places, 
its ravages have not yet been so destructive there as in the former 
ones. 
The cause of the first appearance of the scale on the Coffee-bush 
is variously accounted for. Capt. Robertson's neighbours attribute its 
first introduction to the island to his having imported it on some 
Mocha Coffee-plants from Bombay. The superintendent of one of 
the estates near Captain Robertson's, having first observed it on some 
vigorous plants near the Coolie lines, ascribed its production to the rich 
manuring supplied by the Coolies. Others, such as Mr. Anstruther, 
believe it to be spontaneous in its origin, and assert that bad planting, 
and allowing water to accumulate about the roots of the plant, has 
been the original cause of its production. 
That the * bug” is considered by the natives to be indigenous to 
the island, there can be no doubt; but the evidence on which they 
found their belief does not appear to be sufficiently strong. By Mr. 
Jayetiteke, of Modliar, Kandy, a most intelligent native, who is passion- 
ately devoted to agricultural and hortieultural pursuits, I am informed 
that he has known the “bug” for many years as a pest on the fruit- 
trees of the native villagers, such as the Guava; but that he has never 
seen it so widely spread as during the last few years. By Captain 
Robertson I was likewise informed, that when he pointed it out to the 
natives, they seemed to be familiar with it. Mr. Little, of the 
= Dahanyke estate, in the Ambegamoa district, told me that he had 
. noticed it abundantly on a Guava-tree near his house, in the year 
. 1843, the same year in which it appeared at Captain Robertson's, and 
two years before any of his own Coffee-trees became affected. The 
