OF THE PINE- APPLE* 



315 



seems, on the contrary, to be viviparous. It is most 

 probable that the young ones remain some time in 

 the mealy down of the mother, till they have ac- 

 quired strength, and are arrived at such a degree of 

 perfection as to enable them to support themselves 

 — when they forsake the parent insect, and dis- 

 perse themselves to different parts of the plant. 



When this species is first perceived on the leaves 

 of the Pine, it appears to be nothing more than 

 small particles of meal, or powder, collected toge- 

 ther ; but in a few days it assumes the form of a louse 

 or bug, thickly covered with a fine meal or down, of 

 an oval form on its upper, and very fiat on its under 

 side, from whence proceed its legs, which are six 

 in number. These, as- well as many other particu- 

 lars in the above description, are not to be distin- 

 guished without the help of glasses. 



I hope for the indulgence of my candid readers, 

 in case the natural history and description of the 

 three species of insects which I have attempted to 

 give them should be found inaccurate or erroneous. 

 I do not presume to give an historical and regular 

 description of these insects, the principal object 

 of this treatise (the result of many years' applica- 

 tion and experience) being to point out to my sub- 

 scribers a sure and easy method of extirpating 

 them ; yet I thought it needful to mention some 

 general characteristics of every species which has 

 hitherto been discovered on the Pine-apple plant, 

 in order to show that every one hitherto known 

 had come within my observation ; and had conse- 



