32 CHAS. K, BRAIN. 



of impressed arclies on the sides of the test marks the position of the marginal 

 plates. The waxy coating being thinner on the impressed parts, the arches appear 

 darker, the colom* of the body of the insect showing through the covering-matter. 

 An isolated test averages 7*75 mm. long, 6*50 mm. broad, 5"75 mm. high. 



" Female, denuded of wax, reddish brown to dark brown, the whole surface 

 strongly chitinised ; irregularly globose ; apex often with an oblong scar correspond- 

 ing with the position of the early larval pelHcle, but which becomes almost 

 obhterated in the oldest examples. In the early adult the median is separated 

 from the marginal area by a more or less distinct furrow, which is particularly 

 marked where it meets the anal tubercle. In the older examples only this hinder 

 part of the furrow remains. CephaUc area constricted off from the globose body, 

 forming a trowel-shaped projection in front. Spiracular clefts deeply indented, 

 thickly set with small conical spines, not constricted at the base. Marginal hairs 

 very small, few and inconspicuous. Anal scales minute, inner edge straight, base 

 and outer edge together forming a semicircle. Anal tubercle blackish, directed 

 upwards. Derm with numerous glandular pores, which are more distinct on the 

 darker marginal area. Antennae with either 7 or 8-joints. It is difficult to say 

 which is the normal number, as the two varieties are about equally represented 

 in the series imder examination. With the 8-jointed form the formula runs : — 3, 

 (1, 2), 8, 4, 5, (6, 7). When there are seven joints only the formula is 3, (1, 2, 4), 

 7, (5, 6). In this latter case there is a tendency for the fourth joint to separate 

 into two, and there is always a more or less distinct false joint in the terminal 

 segment. Legs well developed ; tarsus more than half length of tibia. Foot 

 with 4 digitules, the unguals broadly spatulate, the tarsals fine knobbed hairs. 



" Length of fully developed female 5*50 mm., breadth 5*0 mm., height 4*25 mm. 



" The male insect is unknown in any stage." (Green.) 



The material I have examined has a characteristic odour and has uniformly 

 8-jointed antennae, with the following range in ju: (1) 27-34, (2) 41-48, (3) 58-68,. 

 (4) 27-41, (5) 17-37, (6) 17-24, (7) 20-24, (8) 34-37. 



Habitat : On Acacia karroo, Cape Colony ; common but local. 



Collection No. : 85. 



233. Ceroplastes myricae (Linn.). 



Coccus myricae, Linn., Syst. Nat. Ed. xii, i, p. 741, 1766. 



Columnea myricae, Targ., Catalogue, p. 35, 1869. 



Ceroflastes myricae, Sign., Ann. Soc. Ent. Fr. (5) ii, p. 39, 1872. 



'' Habitat ad Cap. B. Spei, in Myrica quercifoha. 



" Magnitudo pisi minoris, semi-ovatus secundum perpendiculum, palUde incarn- 

 atus, vertice obtuse acuminatus cum poro tenuissimo, postice supra marginem 

 etiam porus est, margo cartilagineus, crassior albus, utrinque circiter septem torutis 

 protuberans. 



" Dans OUvier, Encyclopedic, VI, 96, 8, nous trouvons une description presque 

 identique : la femeUe est presque de la grandeur d'un petit pois, le corps est d'une 

 couleur rouge pale et de forme demi-ovale, le vertex est eleve et perce d'un petit 

 point, tout le bord est cartilagineux, epais, blanchatre, marque de chaque cote de 

 petits cordons eleves. 



