PREFACE. i x 



of any country could be considered a complete and 

 useful work of reference without the inclusion of the 

 introduced species. This particularly applies to the 

 British Isles, where the majority of the Coccidge are 

 injurious to plants and fruits cultivated under glass. 

 Taking this important fact into consideration, it has 

 been thought advisable to make this monograph repre- 

 sentative of all the species found living in this country, 

 so that the work may not only appeal to the naturalist, 

 but to all those who are interested in horticultural 

 pursuits. With this object in view instructions are 

 given on the methods of prevention and remedies, to 

 which have been added, from foreign sources, the most 

 approved modern systems of combating these insects 

 on a larger scale than is usually employed in this 

 country. Besides this, the horticulturist will also find 

 valuable data on the natural enemies of the Coccidge. 

 For the first time, proof is afforded from post-mortem 

 examinations of the nature and extent to which certain 

 birds have been found to feed upon our indigenous 

 Coccids (see pages 33 41). 



The drawings on the plates have, as far as possible, 

 been made to a uniform scale throughout, and the 

 approximate magnification has been given. Each 

 species is also shown of the natural size, in situ, on a 

 portion of the food-plant, which may further assist the 

 horticulturist in the identity of the insect. But it 

 should always be remembered that the correct deter- 

 mination of a species lies almost invariably in the 

 careful preparation and microscopical examination of 

 the specimens. 



In preparing the descriptions of the insects a vast 

 amount of material from foreign sources has been 

 examined for comparison with the examples found in 

 this country. 



As far as it has been possible to do so the descrip- 

 tions and illustrations have been made from British 

 specimens, but where the material has been scanty 

 or imperfect the diagnosis has been completed from 



b 



