101 
ably are spreading through human means. A. articulatus probably 
originated in South America; but A. perspnatus is more likely a native 
of the Greater Antilles, its absence in Trinidad favoring this suppo- 
sition. 
Aspidiotus ficus, Riley Ms., Ashni., abounds in Jamaica, and is also 
known from Cuba and Florida. It is likewise common at Vera Cruz, 
Mexico. Probably it is a native of the Greater Antilles, but possibly of 
Mexico; it has apparently been taken to Japan, whence it was brought 
to California, according to Mr. Craw. It does not appear to occur yet 
in the Lesser Antilles, Trinidad, or Demerara. It is against its being 
of Mexican origin that I could not find it on oranges sold in that coun- 
try, except at Vera Cruz, which is a most likely place for any scale to 
be imported. Mr. H. Tryon reports it from Australia. 
This, like the two before mentioned, feeds on many plants. It seems 
probable that unless means are taken to prevent their introduction into 
various countries on plants, all three are destined to become universal 
in the tropics. Any one who has seen them in Kingston, Jamaica, where 
they all abound in the same locality, will appreciate the undesirability 
of this, from an agricultural and horticultural point of view. 
Aspidiotus aurantU, Mask., has a very curious distribution : Austra- 
lia, Tahiti, California, New Zealand, South Europe, and the West Indies. 
Who shall say where it originally came from? But the curious thing 
about it is, that in Jamaica it is not found on Citrus trees, but princi- 
pally on lignum-vitse ( Guaiacum) — occasionally alsoon Cycas* (at King's 
House) and Areca. Its place on the Citrus trees in Jamaica is occupied 
by A. articulatus. 
Apidiotus puniccBj Ckll., presents another instance of difference of 
food plant according to locality. In Jamaica it is found principally on 
pomegranate, never, so far as I know, on cocoanut; but in Dominica Mr. 
Barber found it infesting the cocoanut palm, just in the way that Aula- 
caspis boisduvalii infests it in Jamaica. 
A fact that should not be lost sight of is, that tropical Coccidae may 
be taken from one side of the world to the other, via hothouses in temper- 
ate climates. It is wonderful what a lot of interesting forms have turned 
up in hothouses in Europe. Signoret mentions no less than 48 found 
in such situations ; and Douglas and Newstead have recorded several 
from greenhouses in England, the most recent addition being Pseudin- 
glisia rodriguezia^ Newst., which appears to be referable to my genus 
Conchaspis. Some time ago, I wrote to Kew, urging that an entomol- 
ogist should be appointed to inspect the plants distributed by that in- 
stitution to all parts of the world. Mr. D. Morris kindly replied in 
great detail, stating that at Kew they took all possible care, and that 
probably private importers and exporters were in most cases responsi- 
ble for the wide distribution of certain Coccidse. Be this as it may, it 
is clear that the scale insects manage to travel, and it is difficult to see 
how Kew or any large dealer in exotic plants can avoid transmitting 
*Mr. Cockerell subsequently wrote us that this is not A. aurantii but probably A. 
dictyospermi Morg. — Eds. 
