354 



BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



completely covering them. The scale is about one-eighth 

 of an inch long, quite pointed at one end, rounded at the 

 Other, and usually somewhat curved to one side (Fig. 1), 

 so that in general outline it somewhat resembles an oyster 

 shell. Its color is dark reddish or grayish brown. If one 

 of these scales be lifted, and its under side examined under 

 a microscope, from twenty to a hundred whitish or yellow- 

 ish eggs will be found, while under the pointed end are the 

 remains of the parent insect which produced the scale. 



Fig. 1. — Oyster-shell scale : a, under side of female scale, showing eggs ; b, upper side 

 of same, both much enlarged; c, female scales on a branch, natural size; </, male scale, 

 much enlarged ; e, male scales on branch, natural size. The line lines to the right of a, l> 

 and d show the real length of the scales. (Howard, U. S. Dept. Agr., Yearbook, 1894.) 



The eggs hatch in Massachusetts about the 10th of June, 

 the exact time varying with the nature of the season, and 

 the little yellowish young escape from under the scale and 

 crawl about over the twigs, seeking for places to locate. 

 After a few days they settle down, pusli their sharp beaks 

 through the bark and begin to suck the sap from the tree. 

 Here they remain, and gradually cover themselves with 



