18960 



57 



different circumstances vary in their effects, points of interest for 

 further research. Another interesting suggestion that arises is as to 

 the possibility of a species differentiating into a larger and smaller 

 species by this process, a result that would clearly be one of dis- 

 continuous variation, and such pairs as Triphcena orhona (subsequa) 

 and pronuba, Jimhria and jantliina, are close at hand by way of con- 

 ceivable illustration. In Orgyia antiqua the differences of moults 

 make no difference, or no appreciable difference, in the size of the 

 moths. In Diphthera Orion the extra moulters are all much larger 

 in size, but the two forms are inextricably mixed, with no tendency to 

 divide into two races. 



Hereford : February, 1896. 



OBSERVATIONS ON COCCIBM (No. 14). 



BY R. NEWSTEAD, F.E.S., 



CUEATOB OF THE GEOSVENOE MUSEUM, CHESTER. 



ElPEESIA ERAXINI. 



Eriococcus fraxini, Newstead, Ent. Mo. Mag. (2), vol. ii, p. ]64. 

 Ripersia fraxini, id., op. c, vol. iii, p. 145. 



In my description of this species (Z. c.) the ? only was known to 

 me, I have pleasure, therefore, in appending the description of the 

 (^ and ^ pupa. 



S (fig. 1). Apterous. Bright orange-red, or orange-yellow; abdomen, legs 

 and antennse paler, sometimes greenish-yellow. Very elongate, attenuated behind. 



Head a very little narrower than the 

 body, to which it is not clearly articu- 

 lated ; eyes black ; ocelli absent. 

 Antennae (fig. 2) of eight nearly equal 

 joints ; the articulation of the 2nd and 

 3rd joints together forming a structure 

 like a ball and socket joint ; a character 

 not hitherto observed in the Coccidee. 

 Legs ordinary ; the four digitules to 

 the tarsi are very small ; and there is 

 a rather long hair on the trochanter. 

 Genital armature extremely short ; 

 penis-sheath straight when in its nor- 

 mal position, but almost completely 

 ' "^ hidden within the outer sheath (fig. 3, 



ventral snrface) ; apex of penis-sheath shaped somewhat like the chela of a crab's 

 claw, having an articulated valve-like arrangement at the apex (fig. 4, profile view 



