OF SELBORNE. 97 



but, upon a closer examination behind the 

 larger boughs, we were surprised to find 

 that they were coated over with husky 

 shells, from whose sides proceeded a cot- 

 ton-like substance, surrounding a multi- 

 tude of eggs. This curious and uncommon 

 production put me upon recollecting what 

 I have heard and read concerning the coccus 

 vitis vinifercB of Linnceus^ which, in the 

 south of Europe^ infests many vines, and is 

 an horrid and loathsome pest. As soon as 

 I had turned to the accounts given of this 

 insect, I saw at once that it swarmed on 

 my vine ; and did not appear to have been 

 at all checked by the preceding Winter, 

 which had been uncommonly severe. 



Not being then at all aware that it had 

 any thing to do with England, I was much 

 inclined to think that it came from G^i^- 

 ra/^ar among the many boxes and packages 

 of plants and birds which I had formerly 

 received from thence ; and especially as 

 the vine infested grew immediately under 

 my study-window, where I usually kept 

 my specimens. True it is that I had re- 



VOL. II. H 



