NATURAL ENEMIES OF THE COCCIDJE : BIRDS. 41 



Pulvinaria, or the eggs contained in its conspicuous 

 white ovisac, as on the slightest touch the latter would 

 adhere to the bird's beak and draw out into long 

 sticky webs, and be with difficulty removed from its 

 beak. 



Referring again to the offensive odour which many 

 of the Coccidae possess, I may add that this is particu- 

 larly noticeable in certain genera. Anyone who has 

 crushed batches of "mealy bug" (Dactylopius, sp.) 

 knows the odour is most disagreeable, and sometimes 

 sufficient to permeate the whole cubic area of a hot- 

 house of any ordinary dimensions. Birds sometimes 

 gain access to our conservatories where " mealy bug " 

 is often only too plentiful ; indeed, I have seen the 

 redbreast (Erithacus rubecida, Linn.) nest in such 

 places, but I have never known it to eat the "bug" 

 or "scale." With the possibly nauseous mealy bugs I 

 would also include the genus Psendococcns (PI. C, fig. 

 1), Gryptococcus fagi (PI. A, fig. 2), and Apterococcns 

 fraxini (PI. C, fig. 2), which are conspicuously white 

 from the mealy or waxy coverings which protect 

 their bodies. Uryptococcus and Apleroc&cciis are very 

 common insects, but in districts where they abound I 

 have never seen birds feeding upon them ; nor in winter 

 could I ever trace any ruptured ovisacs, which would 

 be sure to occur if birds fed to any degree on these 

 insects. 



I hope the importance of what has been set forth in 

 the preceding pages with regard to the birds will not 

 only appeal to the biologist, but also to the horticul- 

 turist, as I am 'confident their usefulness in checking 

 such destructive species of Coccidge as the " mussel 

 scale" (M. pomorum), the willow and ash scale (C. 

 salicis), which latter sometimes renders the " osiers " 

 (Salix, sp.) too brittle for weaving purposes, is not to 

 be overrated. Proof such as has been given is indis- 

 putable, and I am convinced that quite 50 per cent, 

 of these insects are devoured by the birds whose names 

 have been appended. 



