214 Transactions. — Zoology. 



transversely striated, and separated by a shallow depression 

 from the sides, which are conspicuously striated to the base. 

 Length of test about T V n - 



Adult female filling the test. Colour a rich dark-brown, 

 fading to orange towards the edges. At gestation the under- 

 surface becomes concave. On the dorsal region there is a 

 central depression corresponding with that of the test, and a 

 longitudinal ridge whose median ends project over the de- 

 pression. Antennae, thick, conical, with six short joints, the 

 first and sixth being rather longer than the others. Feet very 

 small and inconspicuous, almost atrophied, the femur, tibia, 

 and tarsus apparently confused, with a very small short claw. 

 Mentum doubtfully dimerous. Along the basal margin is a 

 row of short thick conical spines, with four rather longer 

 spines opposite the thoracic spiracles ; and a similar row of 

 short spines runs longitudinally along the middle of the 

 dorsum. Abdominal cleft conspicuous ; the lobes large, acu- 

 minate, setiferous ; anogenital ring with many hairs. 



Larva not observed ; but under some of the females were 

 eggshells, so that the insect is probably not viviparous. 



Adult male unknown. 



Hab. In Australia, on Santalum acuminatum. Mr. Tep- 

 per has sent me a number of specimens from Semaphore, 

 near Adelaide. 



This is an extremely pretty little species, and the forms 

 and colours of the male and female tests are very elegant. It 

 is the first of the genus which I have had from anywhere out- 

 side New Zealand ; the Lecanid characters and the glassy 

 striated test fix its position quite clearly. I am unable to 

 conjecture what may be the meaning or use of the peculiar 

 depression both in the female insect itself and in the test ; the 

 male test shows no sign of it, but the depression is constant in 

 all the females observed — perhaps nearly a hundred. 



Genus Cekoplastes, Gray. 



Female insects covered with waxy tests, which present, in 

 the adult state, -no radiating marginal processes or marginal 

 fringe, but exhibiting in the earlier stages tuberosities or pro- 

 jections which usually coalesce at maturity. 



Male unknown. 



Ceroplastes rubens, sp. nov. Plate XII., figs. 6-10. 



Test of adult female waxy, rather thick, dull-red or pinkish 

 throughout ; form subcircular, quite flat beneath, with an 

 orifice for attachment to the plant, the upper surface with 

 irregular sloping sides and flattish top, in the centre of which 

 there is sometimes a minute indistinct orifice ; from the orifice 

 very faint lines may be made out in some specimens, radiating 



