99 
number of the fluids used for the preservation of fruits, but had found 
none of them satisfactory. 
Mr. Osborn thought that the aqueous preparations employed were 
open to the objection that they would freeze. 
Mr. Smith had employed a method of killing and preserving larva 1 
similar to that described in the paper and agreed that alcoholic speci- 
mens as ordinarily collected and preserved were often of little use for 
the study of internal structures. 
The following paper was then read : 
THE DISTRIBUTION OF COCCIDJE. 
By T. D. A. Cockerell, Las Cruces, X. Mex. 
[Head by tbo secretary in the absence of the author.] 
It would be difficult to point to any group of insect pests the ravages 
of which have been more seriously increased by human interference 
than the Coccidre. As a general rule, when one finds (Joccids under 
strictly natural circumstances, they are local in their distribution, and 
their attacks are confined to one or two species of plants. But now 
that we continually carry plants from one country to another, we take 
with them Coccidie of many kinds, and already some scale-insects are 
so cosmopolitan by human introduction, that it is very difficult to guess 
where they originally came from. 
It is a matter of common knowledge amongst economic entomologists 
that the evils thus arising are on the increase ; and I would submit to 
you that the outlook is a very serious one.* Even in the temperate 
zone you have become familiar with the injuries done by Coccidse in 
countries where they are not indigenous ; but in the tropics the state 
of affairs is beyond anything one could easily imagine, without having 
seen it. Coming to New Mexico from Jamaica, I experienced a kind 
of surprise at not seeing the leaves of the roadside trees spotted with 
Diaspimeaud Lecaniinas, although I knew quite well that such appear- 
ances were not to be looked for so far north. In Jamaica, if instruct- 
ing an inexperienced person to collect Ooccida^, it would almost be 
sufficient to say " gather leaves of various trees that grow about the 
town." 
The luxuriance of tropical vegetation is such that the harm done by 
Coccida3 is not so great as one might expect from their abundance ; but 
still, their presence is often the occasion of annoyance and injury to 
* I here assume that anything which decreases the food supply of the human race 
is disadvantageous. This is not the place to discuss those artificial conditions, 
whereby abundance is made a cause of scarcity, and the wealth of some depends 
upon the want of others. 
