10 [January, 



out in our only <? . It is narrow, and bears a peculiar spine as shown in the figure. 

 Above this "finger" there is another process, which is club-shaped. In wliich way 

 this process is connected with the clasper or the finger we cannot make out. Above 

 the large flap there appears a small stylet-like process, the homology of which is 

 unknown to us ; it is in the same position on both sides of the specimen, and seems 

 to project from the inside of the large flap. The manubrium (M) is broad and 

 curved upwards, its apes being pointed. The ninth sternite (IX st.) is partly con- 

 cealed by the clasper ; the portion which is clearly visible has the outline as shown 

 in the figure. The ninth tergite bears a ratlier strong bristle at its apical edge. 

 The lateral portion of the tenth tergite (X t.) is rounded oft' distally and is covered 

 with minute hairs, this sclerite being apparently separated by a suture from the 

 dorsal central sclerite of the tenth tergite. ? . Tlie eighth abdominal tergite is 



emarginate at the apex. There are about four long bristles from the ventral apical 

 angle inwards and about as many on the upper half of the lateral surface, besides 

 numerous small bristles which are placed on the lower half of the lateral surface. 

 The anal tergite (= tenth tergite) lias one long bristle. The stylet is nearly three 

 times as long as it is broad at the base. Length, $ 2 mm., ? 2"7 mm. 



We have one ^ and three ? ? from Viilparaiso, Chile, off Akodon 

 olivaceus, Akodon longipilis, and Phyllotis danvini, collected by Mr. 

 J. A. Wolffsohu. 



Tring Park, Tring : 



December, 1908. 



ON A NEW SPECIES OF KERMEiS DESTRUCTIVE TO OAK TREES 

 IN NORTH INDIA. 



BY E. ERNEST GKEEN. 



In July last Mr. E P. Stebbing, Imperial Forest Zoologist to the 

 Government of India, wrote me ;)s follows : — " I am sending you 

 some scale insects upon a twig of oak (Quercus incann) from the 

 N, W. Himalayas above Bhim Tal. The oak trees over a considerable 

 area were infested with this scale wliich was killing them, all the 

 crowns being thickly infested." 



In view of the economic itiiportance of this pest, it was desirable 

 that the species should be determined. It jiroved to be a Kermes. 

 Comparison with examples and descriptions of other known members 

 of that genus convinced me that this one was amply distinct, a con- 

 clusion in which Mr. Eobert Newstead and Prof. Cockerell (to whom 

 I submitted examples of the insect) concurred. I append a formal 

 description of the new species. 



