80 Transactions. — Zoology. 



few short fine hairs which bear a pencil of white cotton, and 

 on being very shghtly pressed the extremity of the abdomen 

 protrudes in a circular reticulated form, as shown in the 

 figure. 



Male unknown. 



Hab. In Australia. My first specimens were sent by Mr. 

 Ollifi", on a twig of orange, from Sydney ; a second lot came 

 from Mr. Froggatt, on Acacia sp., also from Sydney ; and 

 later, Mr. French sent me some on Daviesia corymbosa, from 

 Anderson's Creek, near Melbourne. The cotton on the Sydney 

 specimens is pure white, and that from Melbourne tinged with 

 yellow : the insects otherwise agree. 



The appearance of this species, or rather of its cotton, is 

 somewhat striking, as it is very thick and abundant, and 

 covers the twigs profusely. I cannot say that it entirely cor- 

 responds with the usual type of Pulvinaria, because it is by no 

 means easy to distinguish clearly the insect, so much is it sur- 

 rounded by the cottony mass ; yet I cannot declare that it is 

 entirely embedded. If it were so, it would probably have to 

 be placed in the genus Signoretia ; but it seems to suit Pul- 

 vinaria best. It is another instance of a species on the border- 

 line of two genera. 



Genus Signoketia. 

 Signoretia atriplicis, Maskell. N.Z. Trans., vol. xxiv., 



1891, p. 23. 



I have already remarked above (see genus Pulvinaria) that 

 this appears to be identical with P. mashelli, OUiff, and the 

 species has to be abandoned. 



Signoretia luzulse, var. australis, Maskell. N.Z. Trans., 



vol. XXV., 1892, p. 223. 



I have been able, since reporting this insect last year, to 

 examine further specimens, and can maintain its specific and 

 generic position, although from the size of the sac and a few 

 minute differences it may receive rank as a variety. 



The Group Hemicoccinse, Mask., and the genera Asterole- 

 canium and Planchonia. 



During the year 1892 I received from Mr. Olliff, of Sydney, 

 some specimens which, after close examination, I place in the 

 genus Kermcs, and, as this is the first species of this genus 

 which I have had occasion to describe in detail, I venture to 

 repeat here the characters ascribed to the group Heviicoccinos 

 in my paper of 1883 (N.Z. Trans., vol. xvi.) and in my " Scale 

 Insects of New Zealand," 1887 : — 



Adult females exhibiting the anal cleft and the lobes of 

 Lecaninge : naked or covered. 



