320 DIRECT BENEFITS DERIVED FROM INSECTS. 



that the Grecians and Romans produced their crimson ; 

 and from the same source were derived the imperishable 

 reds of the Brussels and other Flemish tapestries. In 

 short, previous to the discovery of cochineal, this was the 

 material universally used for dyeing the most brilliant 

 red then known ; and though that production of the New 

 World has, in some respects undeservedly % supplanted 

 it in Europe, where it is little attended to except by the 

 peasantry of the provinces in which it is found, it still 

 continues to be employed in a great part of India and 

 Persia b . 



The scarlet grain of Poland (Coccus polonicus) is found 

 on the roots of the perennial knawel (Scleranthus peren- 

 nis, a scarce plant in this country, but abundant in 

 the neighbourhood of Elvedon in Suffolk), and was at 

 one time collected in large quantities for dyeing red in 

 the Ukraine, Lithuania, &c. But though still employed 

 by the Turks and Armenians for dyeing wool, silk and 

 hair, as well as for staining the nails of women's fingers, 

 it is now rarely used in Europe except by the Polish 

 peasantry. A similar neglect has attended the Coccus 

 found on the roots of Poterium Sanguisorba c , which was 

 used by the Moors for dyeing silk and wool a rose co- 



m The colour communicated by Kermes with alum, the only mor- 

 dant formerly employed, is blood red : but Dr. Bancroft found (i. 404.) 

 that with the solution of tin used with cochineal it is capable of im- 

 parting a scarlet quite as brilliant as that dye, and perhaps more per- 

 manent. At the same time, however, as ten or twelve pounds con- 

 tain only as much colouring matter as one of cochineal, the latter at 

 its ordinary price is the cheapest. 



b Bochart, Hierozoic. ii. l.iv. c. 27. Beckmann's History of Inven- 

 tions, Engl. Trans, ii. 171-205. Brancroft on permanent Colours, i. 393. 

 See also Parkhurst's Heb. Lexicon under ybn and rw. 



c Rai. Hist. Plant, i. 401. 



