INSECTS. 
117 
wards at the extremity of the abdomen, which is somewhat hairy It 
is said of some of the coccus tribe that the males escape backwards 
from the shell, or case, with the wings extended flatly over the head 
Mr. Browne in his work on the “Trees of America, 1 ’ states that 
„ this insect first made its appearance in Florida, in Robinson’s 
Grove, at Mandarin, on the St. John’s, in 1838, on some trees of the 
Mandarin orange, which had been procured in New York. In the 
course of three 0 r four years, they spread to the neighboring planta- 
tions, to the distance of ten miles, and were the most rapid in their 
migrations in the direction of the prevailing winds, which evidently 
aided them m their movements. In 1840, Mr. P. S. Smith of St. 
Augustine, obtained some orange trees from Mandarin, and had them 
planted in his front yard. From these trees, the insects went to 
others in the same enclosure, and rapidly extended themselves to the 
trees and plantations to the northerly and westerly parts of that city 
and its vicinity obviously aided in their migration by the south-east 
tiade-winds, which blow there almost daily during summer ; and 
what is remarkable, these insects were occupied nearly three years 
in reaching trees in the south-east side of the city, only about 
half a mile from their original point of attack. They have since 
however, extended themselves to all the trees in and about the city’ 
but have not yet travelled in any direction beyond ten miles Being 
aided in their dispersion by birds, and other natural causes, impossi- 
ble to guard against, they must eventually attack most if not all the 
trees in Honda; for the wild-orange groves suffer equally with those 
which have been cultivated, and no difference can be perceived in 
their ravages between old and young trees, nor between vigorous and 
decayed ones. Various remedies have been tried to arrest their pro- 
guess, such as fumigating the trees witli tobacco-smoke, covering 
them with soap, lime, potash, sulphur, shellac, glue, and other viscid 
and tenacious substances, mixed with clay, quick-lime, salt, etc. ; but 
all have failed, partial ly*or entirely, and it appears not to be in the 
power of man to prevent the ravages of these insignificant and insidi- 
ous destroyers.” 
The above remarks were first published in 1846, and at the present 
0 8y 5,) the disease appears to have spread over the greater part 
of l’loiula, as was anticipated. Several other remedies have been 
proposed, one of which was earnestly recommended the past season. 
1 us consisted of a wash, composed of a gallon of water, a gallon of 
whiskey, and four ounces of aloes. Many contradictory reports as to 
the efficacy ol this mixture have been received, some stating that it 
completely succeeded, while others contend that it was an entire fail- 
ure, or merely destroying the first brood of insects already on the 
tiee. It the latter should be the case, it might perhaps prove more 
effectual if the tree were well washed and syringed, every two or three 
weeks, as long as no perfect eggs remained upon the dried-up skin or 
shells of the (lead female, to produce new generations, as, perhaps 
these eggs might not be affected by the wash which was strong enough 
to destroy the life of the perfect insect. It would also be advisable to 
syringe the trees from time to time, even when very few insects can 
