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The scales of the present season are of a dark brown 

 color and smooth surface, as if waxed or varnished, and 

 fastened securely to the bark to keep out the elements. 

 At the small end of the scale is what appears like an oval 

 plate, of a light amber color, which is said to be the cast 

 off skin of the insect in the larva state. 



On loosening one of these fresh scales, it will be found 

 nearly full of pure white eggs (Fig. 2.) (i, greatly magni- 

 fied), closely packed, and waiting for the warm weather to 

 hatch them out next Spring. There may be anywhere 

 from ten to one hundred eggs under each scale. Fortu- 

 nately some of the small birds, as the wrens and chica- 

 dees, devour immense numbers of these eggs before they 

 hatch. It is said there is a mite, similar to those found 

 in cheese and raw sugar, which sucks the eggs of this 

 Aspidiotus. I saw such an one in a colony of apple 

 scales yesterday, but did not catch him in the act of egg- 

 sucking. The mites may be distinguished from the 

 young of the scale by having eight legs, instead of six. 

 You may have to put a drop of alcohol, benzine, or the 

 like, on one to keep him quiet enough to make out the 

 number of his legs. 



