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or grayish browu. If one of these scales be lifted, and its under 

 side examined under a microscope, from twenty to a hundred 

 whitish or yellowish eggs will be found, while under the pointed 

 end are the remains of the parent insect which produced the scale. 

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

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



Fig. 1. — Oyster-shell scale : n, under side of female scale, showing eags; 6, upper side 

 of same, both much enlarged; c, female scales ou a branch, natural size; d, male scale, 

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

 and d show the real length of the scales. (Howard, U. 8 Dept. Agr., Tearbook, 1894.) 



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, push their sharp beaks through the bark and begin 

 to suck the sap from the tree. Here they remain, and gradually 

 cover themselves with scales as a protection. In the fall the eggs 

 are laid under the hinder part of the scale and the parent dies, 

 leaving its scale as a covering during the winter for its eggs, 

 which hatch the following spring. The male scales are smaller 

 and of a slightly different form from the female scales, as shown 

 in Fig. 1. 



This insect is found on a large number of food plants, the more 

 important ones being the apple, pear, plum, quince, lilac, ash, 

 poplar, willow, elm, maple, raspberry, currant and rose. 



