Scientific Intelligence. — Zoology. 195 



15. Coccus Cacti. — This little insect, so valuable for yielding 

 the cochineal dye and carmine, has of late years been introduced 

 not only into the East Indies, but likewise into some of our 

 West India islands. In St Vincent's, the Reverend Lansdown 

 Guilding, a distinguished naturalist, has established a nopalery 

 (or cochineal nursery) in his own garden ; and it is believed he 

 has already sent specimens of the dried insect to the Society of 

 Arts in London. The species of cactus or nopal, planted by Mr 

 Guilding for the insects to feed and breed upon, is the C. cochi- 

 nillifer of Linnaeus, but not of Decandolle ; which last is C. Tuna 

 of Linnasus. In Mexico two varieties, or perhaps species, of the 

 insect are bred ; a superior kind called ^wa, and a common kind 

 called silvestre. It is the latter only which we have yet ac- 

 quired ; but the East India Company having offered a large re- 

 ward for the introduction into Bengal of the former, we may 

 hope that this will soon be accomplished. The importance of 

 the object will appear, when it is mentioned, that the annual con- 

 sumption of cochineal in Great Britain alone, is estimated at 

 150,000 lb., which is worth L. 275,000 Sterling. For about 

 twelve years past, a few of the insects have been kept on cacti, in 

 one of the hot-houses in the King^s garden at Kew. Like the 

 common coccus of our pine-stoves, the male is winged, and flies 

 about ; while the female is destitute of wings, and scarcely ever 

 changes her place. A good representation of the cochineal cac- 

 tus, with some of the insects upon it, has just been published by 

 Professor Hooker of Glasgow, in the Botanical Magazine, — a 

 work now conducted in a style of the first excellence under that 

 gentleman's management. 



16. Notice of the Habits and Characters of the Lemur tardi- 

 gradus of Linnaeus ; Le Loris paresseux, ou, le Paresseux du 

 Bengale of Cuvier. By W. Baird, Esq. — This very interest- 

 ing little animal, from being seldom brought to this country, 

 and, perhaps from his being a nocturnal animal, seldom to be 

 met with even in India, has never been described, as far as I 

 am aware, with the minuteness he deserves ; and though a very 

 interesting account of some of his habits and manners has been 

 given by Vosmaer and Sir W. Jones, there are still several par- 

 ticulars connected with his organization that have never even 

 been mentioned by any author who has attempted his descrip- 



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