120 THE COCHINEAL INSECT. 



fly, about the size of a flea, with jointed 

 antennae and large white wings in proportion 

 to the body, which is of a red colour, with 

 two long filaments proceeding from the tail. 

 It is an active and lively animal, and is dis- 

 persed in small numbers among the females, 

 in the proportion (according to Mr. Ellis, in 

 the Philosophical Transactions), of about one 

 male to a hundred and fifty, or even two 

 hundred females. When the female insect 

 has discharged all its eggs, it becomes a 

 mere husk, and dies; so that great care is 

 taken to kill the insects before that time, to 

 prevent the young from escaping, and thus 

 disappointing the proprietor of the beautiful 

 colour. The insects when picked or brushed 

 off the plants, are said to be first killed 

 either by the frimes of heated vinegar, or by 

 smoke, and then dried, in which state they 

 are imported into Europe: and it is said, 

 that the Spanish government is annually 

 more enriched by the profit of the Cochineal 

 trade, than by the produce of all its gold 

 mines. 



It may perhaps be almost unnecessary to 

 add, that exclusive of the general, or large 



