36 Transactions. — Zoology. 



The seven-jointed female antenna is found also in some other 

 species of Dactylojnus : but the mentum, which may possibly 

 be monomerous, and the anogenital ring, with its large number 

 of bail's, depart altogether from the generic type. At the same 

 time, I do not consider that, for the present, it is necessary to 

 remove the insect from Dactylopms and establish a new genus 

 on these characters. The male seems to present no specially 

 distinguishing features; and the larva, although specifically 

 distinct enough, with its feathery fringe and minute anal 

 tubercles, may yet be considered as generically normal. It 

 has been already remarked that the shortness* of the last 

 antennal joint is exceptional. On the whole, I leave the 

 species for the present as a Dactylopius. 



Dactylopius herbicola, Maskell. Agricultural Gazette of 

 Neio South Wales, June, 1891, p. 352. 



I mention this insect here only for a reference to the pub- 

 lication in which its description has appeared, and which may 

 perhaps not be so well known as its excellence and usefulness 

 deserve. The insect is Australian, on grass. 



This species may also usefully be compared with the next, 

 which also infests grass. 



Dactylopius graminis, sp. nov. Plate X., figs. 9-12. 



Adult female enclosed in a sac of white felted secretion, 

 aggregated in masses thickly covering stems of grass : the 

 sacs are of irregularly elliptical form. Insect dark-purple, or 

 almost black, globular, segmented : diameter about -^Qin. 

 Antennae of eight joints, . the first seven subequal (the sixth 

 perhaps shorter than the rest), the last as long as any two of 

 the others, fusiform, and bearing a few hairs. Mentum 

 trimerous. Feet slender ; digitules all fine hairs. Anal 

 tubercles very small and inconspicuous, each with a seta and 

 two or three spines. Anogenital ring with six hairs. Epi- 

 dermis bearing a number of simple chxular and small tubular 

 spinnerets. 



Larva and male not observed. 



Hab. On grass. Natal, South Africa. My friend Mr. J. W. 

 Douglas, of London, has sent me several specimens, and has 

 allowed me to add the species to this paper. 



This insect is not far removed from D. poce and from D. 

 herbicola, the former of which infests grass in New Zealand, 

 the latter in New South Wales. It differs from D. 2^00. in its 

 colour, in its aerial habitat (the New Zealand species being 

 subterranean), and in the more solid nature of its sac. The 

 difference from D. herbicola is not so clear at first sight, al- 

 though in the Australian species the dorsal portion of the sac 



