Scale Insects 277 



Fig. 256 does not really belong with the others 

 preceding it, but should be used as the link con- 

 necting the bugs with the grasshoppers. However, 

 since the habits and general degraded aj^pearance 

 of Fig. 256 correspond with the other degenerate 

 bugs, we place him in their company as that is the 

 place the boys would naturally expect to find him. 



A look at these diagrams is sufficient to show 

 to what low depth even a bug can fall by becoming 

 a parasite. As there are many bugs that are 

 cleanly and interesting, we will leave these degen- 

 erates with the hope that our readers will never 

 have occasion to see them anywhere but in pictures. 



Their very name is not mentioned in polite 

 circles, for all agree with Robert Burns that 



» * » ♦ 



-, Sir, is still a 



Though it crawls on tlie curls of a queen." 

 SCALE INSECTS 



For some good reason, while it is considered 

 bad form to call by name the insects which infest 

 slovenly beings, we can, without breaking the rules 

 of propriety, use the same name when it is applied 

 to plants. Thus we can speak of a plant-louse 

 (Fig. 258) or of an oyster-shell bark-louse and not 



