52 



but in our jvidgmerit /. monfserratcnsis is, a very distinct species from 

 the others, ;uul its occurrence only on the ishmd of Montserrat and the 

 eastern side of the isthmus of Panama, as well as its probable occur- 

 rence, mentioned in a i:)revious number of Insect Life, in British 

 Guiana, certainly indicate no piohability that it originally inhabited 

 Australia. Icerya palmcri has as yet been found only in ^lexico and 

 New McNico, while it may be doubted whether the Australian variety 

 of I. rom' is not a distinct si^ecies. The present positive evidence places 

 four species as Australian, one as Mauritian, and three as inhabiting 

 tropical and subtropical America. 



IS THE AZALEA SCALE INDIGENOUS? 



On page 327 of the last number of Insect Life we mentioned the 

 occurrence of the azalea scale {Eriococcus azalece Comst.) upon azalea 

 plants at the agricultural college in Michigan. We have since learned 

 that, as we supposed at the time, the insects were found in the college 

 greenhouses. The natural habitat of this scale has never been ascer- 

 tained, but from its occurrence hitherto only upon greenhouse speci- 

 mens, it was sui)posed to have been introduced from abroad. Prof. 

 Comstock, however, has recently written us that this species occurs 

 commonly upon wild Azalea {Azalea nudiflora) in Coy's Glen near 

 Ithaca, X. Y,, and far from any cultivated plant. This he believes indi- 

 cates that the Eriococcus is a native species. 



A SWARM OF WINGED ANTS. 



Many large swarms of winged ants have been described in the works 

 of travelers, but few are recorded in scientific literature. It will be 

 interesting, therefore, to note that in a letter received about the close 

 of August from Mr. A. H. Mackay, superintendent of education at Hal- 

 ifax, ISTova Scotia, an authentic account is given of such a swarm, Avhich 

 appeared in the form of a great cloud over the valley of the East Kiver 

 in the county of Pictou, N. S., on August 24. Mr. Mackay waites : 



According to one acconnt, the cloud was dense enough on some occasions to inter- 

 cept the light of the sun. They did not appear to alight until dead, when a very con- 

 siderable quantity of them could be gathered off some portions of the ground or 

 pathways. Some said their bite was like that of a mosquito, but I have no other 

 evidence of their "biting." They were visible for a whole afternoon — ''until 7 

 o'clock," says one. Their course appeared to be moving along the valley of the river, 

 which is not very large, quite fordable in the dry season in most places, the direction 

 being from southwest to northeast. Nothing like it was seen in "the recollection of 

 the oldest inhabitant." Their sudden genesis in such great numbers must be an 

 interesting problem to the common people, as well as to the entomologist, as the 

 sensation proves. 



Mr. Mackay sent specimens of the ants, which belonged to a species 

 of Prenolepis, apparently j?ar «;«/«. 



