hose. 199 



bark of the young branches, where they de- 

 posit their numerous eggs, which on the suc- 

 ceeding summer are hatched by the warmth 

 of the sun, and nourished by the ascending 

 sap, until they assume the appearance of 

 small green flies, in which state they issue 

 from the bark in such numbers as to cover 

 the tender shoots and leaves, on which they 

 rest, to suck the nutriment of the plant. 

 These flies may be known by a yellow body 

 and black head, with four wings edged with 

 black, and yellow legs spotted with black. 

 Another species of rose-fly has a head and 

 breast of violet colour, with a body of yellow, 

 and legs and wings of pale violet. It may be 

 seen in a summer's morning working on the 

 branches of the rose-tree, and from its slug- 

 gish nature will suffer itself to be taken be- 

 tween the fingers* The branches where it 

 has deposited its eggs are so vitiated by it, 

 that they are easily discovered, as they gene- 

 rally swell to a greater size than the parts 

 above or below, and they often become black 

 on the under side : when examined with a 

 glass, the eggs may be discovered. These 

 branches should be carefully cut off; and 

 when the plants are covered with these in- 

 sects, it is desirable to brush them off with a 

 bunch of feathers or young elder branches, as 



o 4 



