52 
but in our judgment I. motitserratensis is a very distinct species from 
the others, and its occurrence only on the island of Montserrat and the 
eastern side of the isthmus of Panama, as well as its probable occur- 
rence, mentioned in a previous number of Insect Life, in British 
Guiana, certainly indicate no probability that it originally inhabited 
Australia. Icerya palmeri has as yet been found only in Mexico and 
New Mexico, while it may be doubted whether the Australian variety 
of I. rosce is not a distinct species. The present positive evidence places 
four species as Australian, one as Mauritian, and three as inhabiting 
tropical and subtropical America. 
IS THE AZALEA SCALE INDIGENOUS? 
On page 327 of the last number of Insect Life we mentioned the 
occurrence of the azalea scale (Eriococcus azalece Conist.) upon azalea 
plants at the agricultural college in Michigan. We have since learned 
that, as we supposed at the time, the insects were found in the college 
greenhouses. The natural habitat of this scale has never been ascer- 
tained, but from its occurrence hitherto only upon greenhouse speci- 
mens, it was supposed to have been introduced from abroad. Prof. 
Com stock, however, has recently written us that this species occurs 
commonly upon wild Azalea (Azalea nudiflora) in Coy's Glen near 
Ithaca, 5T. Y., and far from any cultivated plant. This he believes indi 
cates that the Eriococcus is a native species, 
A SWARM OF WINGED ANTS. 
Many large swarms of winged ants have been described in the works 
of travelers, but few are recorded in scientific literature. It will be 
interesting, therefore, to note that in a letter received about the close 
of August from Mr. A. H. Mackay, superintendent of education at Hal- 
ifax, Nova Scotia, an authentic account is given of such a swarm, which 
appeared in the form of a great cloud over the valley of the East River 
in the county of Pictou, N. S., on August 24. Mr. Mackay waites : 
According to one account, the cloud was dense enough on some occasions to inter- 
cept the lignt of the sun. They did not appear to alight until dead, when a very con- 
siderable quantity of them could be gathered off some portions of the ground or 
pathways. Some said their bite was like that of a mosquito, but I have no other 
evidence of their " biting." They were visible for a whole afternoon — "until 7 
o'clock," says one. Their course appeared to be moving along the valley of the river, 
which is not very large, quite fordable in the dry season in most places, the direction 
being from southwest to northeast. Nothing like it was seen iu "the recollection of 
the oldest inhabitant." Their sudden genesis in such great numbers must be an 
interesting problem to the common people, as well as to the entomologist, as the 
sensation proves. 
Mr. Mackay sent specimens of the ants, which belonged to a species 
of Prenolepis, apparently parvula. 
