192 R. NEW STEAL) — SCALE INSECTS (COCCID^:) 



however very difficult to trace and so far have not been observed in the- 

 posterior clefts, owing to the opacity of the chitin at the margin. Measure- 

 ments very slightly less than those of the test. 



The singular outline is one of the most striking characters of this insect 

 (fig. 5). It may be readily seen by placing examples in xylol, which quickly 

 renders the very thin waxen test sufficiently transparent but does not, even 

 after long immersion, dissolve it. The long fourth segment of the antennas 

 and also the compact group of spinnerets are unusual, and may assist in the 

 determination of the species. . 



On Bark-Cloth {FIcks sp.) ; Bukoba, German East Africa, 4.iY.10 (C. C 

 Goivdey, no. 1328). 



Ceroplastes ? sp. n. 



Test of young female formed of rather hard, dirty, creamy white wax ; sides 

 roanded, lateral plates obscure, but their positions are indicated by a small 

 central depression, in many instances ; posterior half of the dorsum with a 

 prominent hump suddenly truncate behind, in the centre of which is placed 

 the anal process. 



Length 3-3"5 mm. ; height 2-75-3 nun. 



Female.) young adult. — Elongate, widened posteriorly. Anal process rudi- 

 mentary, surrounded by a disc-like patch of dark chitin. Antennae of six 

 segments, the third much the longest. Stigmatic clefts very shallow ; spines 

 relatively large and conicnl ; they are continuous along the margin both 

 between and beyond the stigmatic clefts, but do not extend to either the 

 cephalic or posterior margin. 



Lenoth 2*5-3 mm. 



This insect is in all probability an hitherto an described one ; but as the 

 examples before me are immature, I do not feel justified in erecting a new 

 name for it ; the wax, though presenting a hard exterior, is readily soluble 

 in xylolj and differs in this respect from Ceroplastes feus. Taking this fact 

 into consideration, and the difference in the character of the antennae, I have 

 come to the conclusion that the specimens are not immature examples of 

 C. feus, though they were taken from the same kind of food-plant and at 

 the same date. All the examples were parasitized ; and it is just possible 

 therefore that the parasite may have caused some alteration in the form of 

 the test, though this is very doubtful. 



On Bark-Cloth (Ficus sp.) ; Bukoba, German East Africa, 4.iv.l0 (C C. 

 Gowdey, no. 1329). 



Ceroplastes ? sp. n. 



Female, second larval stage. — Broadly ovate or almost subcircular, with 

 three bilateral, white, waxen appendages, widely separated ; there are also 

 three cephalic and three posterior processes, but these are minute and placed 



