854 8. J. MOINTIRE ON 80ME COCCID8 FROM BRITISH GUIANA. 



Monthly Magazine," December, 1888). I intend to deposit the 

 Blide which settled that fact in the cabinet of the Club. 



The specimens of Vinsonia pulchella (Signoret), but hereafter to 

 be known as Vinsonia stellifera (Westwood and Donglas), that 

 reached me this time are grand. Several were absolutely uninjured, 

 thus enabling me to make a sketch of the immature and mature 

 condition, between which 1 have got every stage. Perhaps I may 

 quote the translation by Mr. Douglas of Signoret's description of 

 the female insect. 



" The pellicle which covers the insect is thin, of waxen appear- 

 ance, corneous, transparent, forming on its disc a testudinate 

 marquetry, and on each side radiating arms to the number of 

 seven, of which one corresponds to the head, and the others to the 

 stigmata ; there is also a very short one at the anus. We know 

 only the female, which has the form of a star, the branches in all 

 their extent covering the vacant space, which forms the stigmati- 

 ferous tube observable in all the Lecanidce. At a more advanced 

 age the secretion encroaches on the vacant space between the 

 branches of the star, which then appear to be united by a 

 membrane. The dorsal disc is convex, semi-globose. The secretion 

 being removed, and then a corneous skin, the insect is seen beneath 

 it, of a rounded, oval form, a little narrowed towards the head, 

 blackish in colour, with a quantity of embryonic larvae or eggs 

 beneath it. The antennaj have six joints ; the first very broad, 

 the third longest, equal to the last three together, the sixth longer 

 than the two preceding it." (" Entomological Magazine," December, 

 1888). 



In a conversation recently had with Mr. Watson, the Assistant 

 Curator of Kevv Gardens, he told me he believes he has seen this 

 coccid on plants in the Gardens. 



I will venture to say nothing about the coccid Lecanium acumi- 

 natum, which I have figured from a specimen on a mango-leaf, 

 until Mr. Douglas has had his say on the subject first. This will 

 be after my friend Ward has sent over some more leaves, especially 

 orchid leaves, to clear up doubts in the mind of Mr. Douglas upon 

 certain points. 



He says : — "What I particularly hoped to get this time (but 

 have not) was orchid-leaves with the small, ilat, brownish scale, 

 which I saw a few of on the orchids of the former lot, and which 

 were also on the mango then sent, for I want to see if they are 



