20 Mother Chermes. 



from April to August, both larvae and the 

 fully developed winged and wingless insects 

 piercing the bark and living upon the juices 

 during that whole period. The last laid eggs 

 produce the " Mother Chermes," the founder 

 of the next generation. (Those desirous of 

 fuller information should consult the excellent 

 work of Miss Ormerod, to whom all land- 

 owners are deeply indebted.) Now, on these 

 dead leaders I have found no peziza, showing 

 its parasitic nature in not germinating upon 

 dead bark, but immediately below on the live 

 bark specimens have been numerous. 



Whether, owing to the attack of the 

 chermes, the plant has become enfeebled and 

 induced a predisposition to canker, or whether 

 it is the reverse, that the attack of the fungus 

 has enfeebled the plant and rendered the sap 

 more palatable to the chermes, is a matter I 

 cannot pronounce upon with any certainty, 

 but I am led to believe that in every case I 

 have examined, the cancerous attack is earlier 

 in date than that of the chermes. However, 

 these attacks are not always coincident. I 

 look upon the cases I have named as unusual 



