18 Transacttons.— Zoology. 
ineluded under it insects of several distinet species and even families. 
Gustave Planchon, in distinguishing these species, defined the one producing 
the red dye as Kermes vermilio and denominated another K. bauhinii. Both 
of these are true Coccide, and the Coccid genus Kermes may now be said to 
include the following European species :— 
K. ballote, Lichtenstein. 
K. bauhinii, Planchon. 
K. gibbosus, Signoret. 
K. pallidus, Réaumur. 
K. reniformis, Réaumur. 
K. variegatus, Gmélin. 
K. vermilio, Planchon. 
From America a species, K. galliformis, Riley, has been described, and 
some others are reported, but without description, by Professor Comstock. 
From South Australia I have received from F. S. Crawford, Esq., of 
Adelaide, a Kermes, which is undoubtedly a true Coccid, but I have not 
sufficient material for its full description. 
All the above insects are entirely distinct from the Aphidide in the 
apterous condition of the female in all stages of her existence and in almost 
every other character, with possibly a slight doubt as to K. variegatus. 
It would seem to be only correct that, whatever might happen with 
regard to insects discovered or described in later times, the generic name 
ought to follow, and to be included in, the family of the insect which 
originally received the name, whether scientifically or popularly. As there- 
fore, the above-mentioned Kermes vermilio is the undoubted representative 
of the old dye-producing Kermes of the Persians and Arabs, and as it is 
also undoubtedly a true Coccid and not Aphidian, it is right that the 
generic name of Kermes should be attached to the Coccid family, and that 
some other should be found for those Aphidians at present included under 
it. 
Mr. Buckton (British Aphides, vol. iv., p. 22) affirms himself convinced 
by the arguments of Passerini, and adds, ** As regard should be paid to 
priority, I follow Kaltenbach, Koch, and many other authors in retaining 
the name Chermes amongst the Aphidide." The same reasoning would of 
course lead us to extend it also to the Psyllide, with Fabricius, Strobel- 
berger and Marsili two centuries ago ; and this would be absurd. But, in 
truth, the point to be noted is that, whilst it makes no difference perhaps 
to which family the name is given, it is quite clear that it ought not to 
belong to both ; and looking at the position of Kermes vermilio as stated just 
now, it seems most proper that this name should be restricted to the 
Coccide alone, and that some other should be found for the Aphididæ, 
