R. T. LEWIS ON LARVAL FORMS OF ORTONTA AND IOERYA. 359 



amongst the Coccidaa, but in this case too delicate to be shown upon 

 the scale of the figures drawn, requiring a good i inch objective to 

 demonstrate them satisfactorily (see Fig. 3). 



Icerya being well known as a troublesome pest in the Southern 

 States of North America, as well as in South Africa and elsewhere, 

 it seemed desirable to ascertain the name of the Coccinella which 

 had proved itself to be such an effective destroyer of the larvae. It 

 differed from our native species chiefly in the colour of its legs and 

 the under surface of the body, which were a bright crimson instead 

 of black, and on submitting' it for identification to Mr. C. 0. 

 Waterhouse, of the British Museum, he kindly informed me that it 

 was a Rodolia, but what species he was unable to say. 



The difficulties usually attendant upon efforts to obtain good 

 mounts of such delicate and fragile creatures, which the weight of 

 a thin cover glass alone frequently sufficed to crush, were enhanced 

 by the fact of the deep yellow stain which they imparted to most of 

 the media employed ; the resemblance between the colour of the 

 insects to that of a crystal of bi-chromate of potash, and of the 

 resulting stains from an infusion of ether, could hardly fail to be 

 remarked. After numerous experiments the best success seemed 

 to attend attempts to preserve them in a thick solution of Canada 

 balsam in benzole, a drop being allowed to fall upon the larva as it 

 walked upon the slide, and the cover glass laid thereon at once 

 without pressure. 



EXPLANATION OF PLATE XXVII. 



Fig. 1. Larva of Ortonia Natalensis x 45. 

 ,, 2. „ Icerya Purchasi x 45. 

 „ 3. Tarsus and Claw of Larva of Ortonia x 162. 



