738 
[Assembly 
trees,) first by Modeer, (Act. Gothenb. i. 22,) by which name it 
has been noticed by Geoffroy, and authors generally since. Gmelin 
refers to the same insect, at least as it has been generally supposed, 
under the name Coccus conchiformis^ or the Shell-form or Oyster¬ 
shaped Bark-louse. The, specific name, arborum linearis, if really 
designed for the Bark-louse upon the Apple-tree, is a very unfor¬ 
tunate one, as this species is not linear in its form, but tapering, 
and nearly all the other species of Bark-lice infest trees as well 
as this. Costa has recently reformed this name, by omitting from 
it the redundant word arborum. But if the original name is to 
be rejected, in consequence of its non-conformity to the present 
rules of scientific nomenclature, Gmeliii’s name conchiformis must 
assuredly take its place, in consequence both of its priority and 
its appropriateness. Some of the latest authorities, however, 
regard the conchiformis and linearis as being two distinct species. 
This threw such doubts upon Jhe question which of these names 
should be adopted for our Apple Bark-louse, provided it was 
identical with the European insect, as I felt myself scarcely com¬ 
petent to resolve, with the few authorities upon these insects 
which I have, at hand. As Mr. Curtis, the distinguished British 
entomologist, now president of the Entomological Society of Lon¬ 
don, had communicated a series of articles upon several of the 
species of this genus, to the third volume of the Gardener’s Chro¬ 
nicle — a volume to which I have not access—and as I had here¬ 
tofore had some correspondence with him, I recently enclosed to 
him for his opinion, specimens of our Apple Bark-louse, and also 
a seemingly identical species found' upon our Red osier, (C ornus 
sericea.) The following is an extract from his reply : “ I have 
carefully examined your specimens. They are identical, and are 
the Coccus arborum linearis , Geoft., and I believe the C. conchi¬ 
formis of Gmelin, which is in that case a synonym. You are 
right in placing them in the genus Jlspidiotus.” I trust this 
information will satisfy some of my western friends who have 
been reluctant to credit my statement that their insect is not new, 
but is common here at the east, and also in Europe. 
Mr. Rennie speaks of having found this species in great plenty 
upon currant bushes. I have never met with it upon the culti- 
