4 
QuEKETT^ on the Mealy Bug of the Vine. 
be on the stretch were quite straight^ whilst others in their 
neighbourhood were spirally twisted, somewhat like the fibres 
of the smaller spiral vessels of plants. In endeavouring to 
remove some filaments for examination as transparent objects, 
they were found to be very elastic, and, if torn forcibly away, 
they would coil themselves up into a small compass, and, 
unless moistened with some fluid, it was difficult to isolate 
any of the individual filaments. It was mentioned, in the 
description of the insect wax of China, that there was a re- 
pellent power for other fluids except alcohol, and such was 
found to be the case in this instance, the filaments not being 
readily moistened by any other fluid. On examining the 
filaments with a power of 250 diameters, two kinds were ap- 
parent, one rather less in size than the largest filaments of 
the Chinese insect wax, varying in diameter from the ^/j^th 
to -oVoth of an inch, the other very much smaller, and agree- 
ing with the smaller filaments of the cochineal wax ; all on 
being broken were found to be more or less curved. On 
lifting up one of the Cocci, numerous ova of a pinkish colour 
were found imbedded in waxy substance. These are now 
visible in the wax beyond the body of the creature, the parent 
Cocci being now dead and much shrivelled up. On applying 
heat to the filaments they melt, but not so readily as those of 
the Coccus Sinensis and cochineal insect, neither is there such 
an evident attempt at crystallization. When we consider the 
tubular character of these filaments, it is evident that there 
must be some special organ, or set of organs, through which 
the waxy substance has been made to pass ; in fact, it resem- 
bles macaroni on a very small scale. 
As I have hitherto failed in making this out, I have thought 
the subject worthy of the attention of the Society, kno wing- 
that it numbers amongst its members several individuals who 
have both the skill and the opportunity to carry on investiga- 
tions of this nature. 
Note. — Since this paper was written, Mr. Busk, at one of 
the meetings in the last session, directed the attention of the 
Society to a peculiar fibrous, starchy material surrounding 
the ova. (See vol. v. Trans.) This was composed of solid cylin- 
drical filaments which on analysis were found to consist of a 
rather unusual animal secretion, of which starch was a prin- 
cipal constituent. 
