238 THE WOODLANDS. 



and iridescent. There is, however, considerable 

 variation in the colour and markings of the perfect 

 insects, and they may be seen, resting upon flowers, 

 as late as September and October. These, too, 

 have their enemies, which aid in keeping their 

 numbers in check, for a species of Sand Wasp 1 

 has been seen carrying away the pupae into its cells 

 in neighbouring banks, in order to feed its young. 2 



Scale insects, sometimes called Bark Lice, are very 

 troublesome in hothouses, where they attach them- 

 selves to exotic plants ; but there are other species 

 than these, and as common in woods and hedges. 

 The females may be seen adhering to the bark of 

 pear and apple-trees in gardens, to the sloe in hedge- 

 rows, and to the beech and other trees in woods. 

 These females are gregarious in considerable num- 

 bers, and resemble miniature mussel and oyster 

 shells, which adhere firmly to the bark. Remove 

 one of these scales with the point of a penknife, and 

 beneath the hollow shell and shrivelled remains of 

 the old insect a cluster of eggs will probably be 

 found, waiting their time to reproduce the species. 

 The males are winged, and thus afford a singular 

 contrast to the females. These are important insects 

 commercially, although the native species are re- 

 garded as pests. One species furnishes the well- 

 known cochineal dye, and is a native of Mexico, 

 where it feeds upon a cactus. Another, common in 

 India on the twigs of various trees, secretes a 



1 Gorytes campestris. 



2 " Gardener's Chronicle," p. 508. 1842. 



