Maskell. — On CoccididaB. 83 



that may be entirely disregarded, because it would be, as a 

 generic name in the Coccid group, misleading and nonsensical. 

 Formal fetters must not bind reasonable beings too tightly. 



Genus Kermes. 

 Kermes acaciae, sp. nov. Plate IV., figs. 15-18. 



Adult female dull dark-red, with a yellowish tinge; almost 

 globular, with a small orifice beneath for attachment to the 

 plant. Antennae and feet entirely absent. Abdominal cleft 

 nearly obsolete, but distinguishable by a small cut in the edge 

 of the basal orifice, extending as a shallow, narrow depression 

 a short distance along the dorsum until it ends in a minute 

 black spot. At this spot there is a very small orifice with two 

 very minute lobes. The epidermis is somewhat wrinkled, and 

 externally appears smooth. After treatment with potash it is 

 found to be covered with great numbers of minute conical- 

 pointed pustules set close together. I am not quite satisfied 

 that these curious appendages are not on the inner surface only 

 of the skin. In various spots, also, the epidermis is evidently 

 thickened, although on the external surface no ridges are 

 noticeable. Diameter of the insect averaging about iin. 



Female of the second stage semi-globular, yellow or brown. 

 Diameter about xV^- •'^^y specimens are not in sufficiently 

 good order for minute examination. 



Larva yellowish-brown, active, flattish, elliptical : length 

 about -f-Q^i. Abdomen ending in two conspicuous anal 

 tubercles, each bearing a long seta and two spines. Antennae 

 of six short joints, subequal, the last bearing several hairs, of 

 which one is very long. Feet moderate, the tibia shorter 

 than the tarsus : digitales fine hairs. On the head, between 

 the antennae, are four short hairs, and on the margins of the 

 body a row of conical spines. The anal ring appears to have 

 six hairs. 



Hah. In Australia, on Acacia sp. My specimens were 

 sent from Sydney by Mr. Olliff. 



I have marked this as a new species, although in some of 

 its characters it resembles K. vermilio, Planchon, and K. 

 haiihinii, Planchon, both European insects. Yet it differs 

 from both. K. vermilio is supposed to be the representative 

 of the insect which, under the name of Kermes, or Coccus 

 ilicis, produced in former times a rich-red dye. K. acacice 

 differs in failing (as far as I can judge) to produce any colour, 

 either in alcohol or in potash ; also, the posterior extremity of 

 the larva has more prominent tubercles than K. vermilio. On 

 the other hand, it differs from K. hauhinii in colour, that 

 species being jet-black ; but the larval tubercles are similar : 

 but K. hauhinii preserves its feet and antennae. In external 

 colour, in size, in the absence of feet and antennas, and in the 



