40 NATURAL ENEMIES OF THE COCCIDjE : BIEDS. 



vented closer observations. I have also observed in 

 other localities that numbers of the same species of 

 Coccid had been removed from branches of hawthorn in 

 hedges, and I believe it to have been the work of birds, 

 but of what species I am unable to say. The majority 

 of the species of Lecaniiun pass the winter in a very 

 young stage, and are small and hard to detect upon 

 the branches. Possibly they may then be eaten by 

 birds. In May the females become large, brightly 

 coloured, conspicuous insects, and when bruised give 

 off a somewhat disagreeable odour. I am incline* 1 t > 

 think, therefore, that they are not so extensively fed 

 upon by birds as the immature ? or the various 

 species of Diaspinae. 



Pvlvinaria ribesiae (PI. E, fig. 2). On the morning 

 of November 20th, 1900, I had a delightful oppor- 

 tunity of watching a marsh tit make an early meal oil 

 a colony of this Coccid which I had established on a 

 Ribes sanguineum near to my house. The plant in 

 question was quite close to a window, through which I 

 could plainly see the bird peck off the insects. And 

 Avhen I thought the bird had taken as many of the 

 Coccids as I could well afford, I drove it away. From 

 the scars on the branches I was able to count the 

 number of insects the bird had taken, which numbered 

 twenty-seven. I have not seen another species of tit 

 in my garden since, which is nothing unusual, a^ I am 

 near the town, and have no trees to encourage them. 

 But sparrows perch daily upon the branches of the 

 same Ribes, and never take them. The Coccid in 

 question was in its winter stage, measuring about ' 

 mm. long, and so closely does the colour of the insect 

 harmonise with the bark that nothing could, I think, 

 detect it at a distance of a few feet. I should add t hat 

 the immature Pulcinaria are not distinguishable from 

 the immature species of the preceding genus, which 

 rather strengthens what I have there stated in refer- 

 ence to the young of the species of Lecanium. 



I cannot imagine a bird feeding upon an adult female. 



