R. T. LEWIS ON LARVAL FORMS OP ORTONIA AND IOERYA. 357 



other matters of more pressing importance claiming attention, the 

 tray was placed on one side for further reference if required. 

 Towards the end of October last Mr. Ward again sent over a 

 similar consignment of Coccidae, with inquiries for information con- 

 cerning them. On coming into my hands I found that in external 

 appearance they differed widely from those which had been for- 

 warded in May, each insect being, with the exception of its head 

 and thorax, invested with a dense white felted material, presenting 

 a longitudinally ribbed pattern upon its upper surface. On re- 

 moving this — which proved to be the ovisac — the creature was 

 seen to be somewhat similar in shape to Ortonia Natalensis, but 

 differing from it both as to size and colour, being about one-third 

 less in linear measurement, and red instead of pale chrome yellow. 

 A cursory examination showed that the ovisacs of the insects, as 

 well as the entire contents of the box, were strewed with 

 detached legs and dried-up bodies of larval forms which had 

 apparently been hatched out during transit, but which had been 

 destroyed in a manner quite unaccountable until the discovery of a 

 living ladybird amongst the debris clearly explained the mystery 

 and led at once to its removal. One only of the adult specimens 

 was found to be alive, but in the course of a few days more of the 

 larva* were hatched out, and I soon had a good supply of them for 

 examination. Desiring further knowledge concerning them, I made 

 drawings of the legs and antennae of the full-grown insects and 

 forwarded them to Mr. Douglas, together with some of the most 

 perfect specimens I could find. He replied at once to the effect 

 that both the legs and antennae appeared to be practically the 

 same as those of Ortonia, previously received, except as to size, 

 which was not perhaps a matter of great importance. Being, 

 however, very busy at the time, it seemed that he did not then open 

 the box containing the insects, but on doing so a few days later he 

 wrote to express his surprise at finding that the creatures were 

 undoubtedly the notorious Icerya ; but the close identity between 

 the antennae and legs, before noted, led him somewhat to hesitate 

 as to whether it might not become necessary to modify his opinion 

 as to the species formerly designated Ortonia, the possibility 

 having suggested itself that notwithstanding the differences in 

 size, colour, and external appearance, the one might after all turn 

 out to be a penultimate stage of the other. In this difficulty it 

 occurred to me to refer again to the specimens of Ortonia which 



