54 Transactions. — Zoology. 



tinctly Lecanid. But if, in the Crustacea, it is deemed right 

 to separate those with sessile eyes from those "with stalked 

 eyes, a similar grouping based partly on the presence or absence 

 of a " tail " might be allowed amongst Coccids. 



Genus Caetekia, Signoret. 



This genus may be characterized by the prolongation of 

 the abdominal segments of the female in a more or less dis- 

 tinct but not very long " tail," by the presence on the thoracic 

 or on the abdominal dorsal region of two protruding tubes 

 (probably the organs for excreting the resinous matter sur- 

 rounding the insects), by the absence of feet in the adult, and 

 by the presence of a large strong spine just above the abdo- 

 minal prolongation. 



The genus has hitherto been represented by the Asiatic and 

 African species, C lacca — producing the article commercially 

 known as " shellac " — and by two American species, G. mcxi- 

 cana and C. larrcce, Comstock, which also produce much 

 resin, though seemingly not in commercial quantities. I am 

 unable to say from the specimens submitted to me whether 

 the two Australian species herein described can be made use- 

 ful in this way : their resin is not superabundant as far as I 

 can tell, but it might be worth while to make further inquiry 

 on the point. 



Signoret at first (" Essai," 1874, p. 293) placed Carteria 

 amongst the Lecanids, on account of the monomerous mentum, 

 the presence of two very minute lobules close to the anal ring 

 (which he considered analogous to the " squames anales " of 

 Lecanium), and the very long anal spike of the male. In 1876, 

 however (p. 429), he changed his view, and indicated that the 

 genus might be placed amongst the Brachyscelidcc. I agree 

 with this opinion, and have here adopted it, not on account of 

 the formation of any gall, which Carteria does not effect, but 

 partly because of the prolongation of the abdomen above men- 

 tioned. The characters of the larvaa are distinctly not Lecanid. 

 Comstock, in his description of the two American species 

 (Eep. on Insects, 1881), does not mention any larvae, nor does 

 he discuss the affinities of the genus. I prefer to make use of 

 existing means of classification wherever it is possible, even 

 if the boundaries must be very slightly enlarged, to proposing 

 an additional group, which might require much revision here- 

 after. 



Carteria melaleucse, sp. nov. Plate XII., figs. 1-10. 



Female insects producing a quantity of very dark-red or 

 purple resinous matter, which may be aggregated in masses 

 on the twigs, or in detached semi-globular pieces each of which 

 contains an insect. On the outside of these resinous masses 



