60 DESTRUCTIVE INSECTS OF VICTORIA. 



kind which grew nearest the sea ; the more erect species 

 is found more inland. In the early fifties the writer 

 recollects that quite a fleet of small craft was engaged in 

 the firewood trade, with head-quarters at Dromana, at 

 which place, long before a pier was thought of, thousands 

 of tons of this firewood might have been seen stacked for 

 shipment to Melbourne. With the exception of the 

 wattle, the She- oak is the best wood for bakers' purposes 

 available. As a shelter tree for sea-shore purposes, it has 

 no equal, the roots being mostly surface ones, and therefore 

 useful for binding, and arresting erosion caused by the 

 action of wind and wave combined. As a shelter tree, it 

 may be observed that the Casuarina is one of the most 

 valuable, growing with the Wattle in places where little 

 else would thrive, making at once a shelter for stock, 

 being useful as well as ornamental. 



The hardiness of this insect, as also others of the same 

 group, is shown by the fact that when on the sea-coast they 

 will survive strong winds and salt sprays which are so deadly 

 to most vegetation, and also to soft-bodied insects. Aspi- 

 diotus rossi, a flat black scale, common to Blackwood and 

 others of our native trees, will thrive on coast plants which 

 are at high tide partially submerged by the sea ; and the 

 scale now dealt with is equally hardy, but much more 

 deadly in its effects than are most members of this large and 

 highly interesting group of insects. It must not be sup- 

 posed, however, that this Horn Scale is confined to the 

 coast ; on the contrary, it is common on the She-oaks 

 growing on the wind-swept hills of Myrniong, Black- 

 wood, and other inland parts of the State. 



As this insect is of such extraordinary interest, especially 

 to naturalists, I have given a more detailed plate than 

 usual. 



Prevention and Remedies. 

 It has been suggested that this pest will attack only old 

 or full-grown trees. I have proved this to be an erroneous 



