EXPLANATION OF PLATE VIII. 



A bunch of dates photographed in early August when growth of the fruit had 

 practically ceased and ripening was just commencing : 



a, pedicel from which all the dates have fallen owing to the attacks of the larva 

 of a moth (Fam. Gelechiidae) ; as will be seen, the perianth falls as well as the 

 unripe date. 



6, dates destroyed by the larva, but which have not yet fallen ; notice their 

 small size and spherical shape ; they are quite hard and dry ; such dates are known 

 in Arabic as " hashaf." 



c, healthy dates. 



