CHERMES. 
187 
secretes the white fibres from large pores placed 
in a circle at some distance from the vent. These 
larvae are gregarious, often appearing in such 
numbers on the shoots of the tree that the whole 
shoot appears covered with white cotton, which, if 
touched by the finger, separates into distinct tufts 
from the animals’ being suddenly disturbed and 
moving in all directions. When this cotton is 
brushed off, the larva appears of a pale green 
colour, varied with black spots, which on the 
upper part of the abdomen are disposed in two 
longitudinal rows: the tip of the abdomen is also 
black. When arrived at its complete or perfect 
state by casting its pupa skin, it is entirely green, 
with transparent wings veined with green and 
slightly shaded with browui. If disturbed, it leaps 
with much agility, frequently flying at the. same 
time. 
Chermes Pyri is nearly of similar size with the 
former, and is found on the leaves of the common 
pear-tree: its colour is a greenish brown, varied 
with deeper streaks, and the wings are nearly trans- 
parent, spotted witli brown : the larva of this species 
is of a greenish brown, with darker spots, and 
is nearly naked, or destitute of the cottony secre- 
tion so remarkable on that of the preceding, but 
is beset with short whitish hairs towards the hinder 
part of the body. 
Chermes Buxi is a beautiful little insect, of a 
bright grass-green colour, with the wings of a 
similar cast. Its larva resides on the young shoots 
