42 Transactions. — Zoology. 



cephalic extremity resting on the base, and the rostrum applied 

 to the termination of the unharmed portion of the twig. Form 

 elongated, cylindrical, with parallel sides ; the cephalic end 

 more or less truncate, the abdominal extremity rounded. 

 Length variable : specimens observed from about ^in. to about 

 i-in. Colour red, with frequently many darker spots on the 

 cephalic and thoracic regions, and often powdered with white 

 meal, which on the cephalic region frequently appears rather 

 solid. Viewed dorsally, the body exhibits several segments, 

 of which the three anterior ones are the largest ; viewed ven- 

 trally, each of the three anterior segments is seen to possess 

 two rounded lobes or processes developed posteriorly, and 

 slightly overlapx^ing the next segment. The median seg- 

 ments are short and concave, and the rounded anal segment 

 is frequently turned upw^ards (as shown in fig. 5, side view). 

 In the hollow thus formed crowTls of larvae may be frequently 

 seen congregated and crawling about. On all the abdominal 

 segments, especially on the last two, are many longish hairs ; 

 the cephalic and thoracic segments are almost, if not quite, 

 hairless. The last abdominal segment forms a circular, slightly 

 convex plate, with the anal orifice (which is simple and hair- 

 less) in the centre. On this segment there are no spines, but 

 only the longish fine hairs just mentioned. The antennae are 

 placed quite at the cephalic extremity : they are very short, 

 conical, with very broad base, and terminating in a sharp 

 point. I can only make out four joints, of which the second 

 is the shortest, and there seem to be no hairs. The anterior 

 pair of feet are very thick and stumpy, and appear to have 

 at first sight only four joints; but on close examination there 

 is seen to be a short thick coxa, with a thick cylindrical femur, 

 and a tibia also thick and slightly tapering. The tarsus is 

 verv small and short, and the distinction between it and the 

 small claw is not easily made out. The figure 7 of Plate IX. 

 exhibits the features of this foot. The posterior pairs of feet 

 are only represented by maculae, which, however, seem to be 

 usually very slightly convex. Eostrum rather large ; mentum 

 dimerous. I have not been able to detect any eyes. On the 

 epidermis are several small and simple spinneret-orifices. 



The foregoing description applies to the normal, uninjured, 

 adult female. But the great majority of the specimens which 

 I have observed have been attacked by parasites, and probably 

 the student may more often find parasitised females than any 

 others. Insects in this condition may be recognised, first, by 

 being usually of a light-yellow colour, and next by having an 

 almost regularly cylindrical form, in which there is scarcely 

 any trace of segments : in fact, the appearance is bloated and 

 unnatural. The lighter colour is due to the semi-transparency 

 of the skin, and the absence of the ordinary red internal 



