180 



[August, 



f^-i 



My fig. 1 presents a dorsal view (enlarged by 30 diameters) of a 



British example of the insect. In 

 their mud- stained condition the 

 lamellae show little or no trace of 

 the yellow bands described by the 

 author of the species. Nor have 

 the present examples any promi- 

 nent ovisac ; biit this difference is 

 attribntal)le merely to the compara- 

 tive immaturity of the specimens. 



In one particular I am inclined 

 to disagree with Dr. Sulc's inter- 

 pretation of the characters of Or- 

 theziola. He remarks that " the 

 3- jointed antennae are attached to 

 the frontal processes, which bear 

 also on each side a stalked simple eye." From a comparison with the 

 same organs in Neivsteadia and in typical Orihezia (see figs. 2, 3, 

 and 4), I am convinced that the so-called "frontal processes" are 

 homologous with the basal joint of the antennae in the allied genera. 

 This (?) process or joint, in Orfheziola, is densely chitinous, and is in 

 every particular of the same character as the unquestioned autenual 

 joints. It is true that they have not a very well-defined basal margin, 

 and their nature is also confused by the fact that the cylindrical eyes 

 are firmly fused to their bases (see fig. 2) ; but I would interpret this 

 condition as the result of a confluence or effusion of the denser chiti- 

 nous areas at the base of the antennae, in correlation with the confluence 

 of the tibia and tarsus in the present insect. In other species of the 

 Ortheziiue group the eye, though separate from the acknowledged 

 basal joint of the antenna, bears relatively the same position to it as 

 does the eye in Orfheziola to the supposed frontal process. No frontal 

 process — of this nature — has been observed in any other Coccid. In 

 Neivsteadia, to which genus this insect is most nearly allied, there are 

 two stout cylindrical basal joints, followed by several small obconical 

 or pyriform joints (fig. 3). In Or/Zieg/oZrt, Sulc's frontal process and 

 what he understands as the first true joint clearly represent the two 

 cylindrical basal joints in Newsteadia. If this view is accepted, 

 Orthezioia should be credited with four (instead of three only) joints 

 to the antennae. 



While on the subject of the Ortheziine antennae, I should like to 



