360 Linnaan Society: — 



granular matter. The threads differed from the cylinders found in 

 the crude wax of the Coccus Pela in not being tubular, and in their 

 diameter measuring on an average only -g^-JQ_th of an inch, or about 

 one-half. Attempts were made to trace the mode of connexion of 

 these filaments with the insect's body, but owing to their extreme 

 delicacy and fragility this was found impossible. The integument, 

 however, to which they were attached was found to be perforated 

 by a number of circular openings, having a distinct double outline, 

 the diameter of the inner circle exactly corresponding with that of 

 one of the filaments. Hence it seemed probable that the sjiiral 

 threads, which were evidently a secretion, had issued from these 

 circular openings. What was the chemical nature of this white 

 secretion ? A small portion, placed on a glass slide and melted over 

 the flame of a spirit-lamp, became a transparent, colourless drop, 

 which on cooling became opake white, and was then found to have 

 lost its original structure and to have become crystalline. The 

 crystals consisted partly of irregularly-shaped fragments, and also 

 contained, especially when the cooling had been conducted slowly, 

 acicular crystals arranged in stellate masses as in the case of the 

 two substances already described. The melting-point, as far as could 

 be ascertained with the small quantities experimented on, was 

 between 190° and 200° Fahr. The substance floated in water, and 

 was perfectly insoluble in this fluid, and but sparingly, if at all, 

 soluble in alcohol, sulphuric rether, or solution of caustic alkali, 

 whereas in naphtha it dissolved readily, as also in vegetable oils, 

 forming with the latter a white solid substance. From these cha- 

 racters there could be little doubt that the white secretion of 

 the Fhita limbata was of a waxy nature, and also very similar in its 

 properties to the Chinese Insect- wax of commerce. 



The author concluded as follows : — 



" The Flata limbata occurs in great abundance in China, and also 

 in some parts of India, and I believe, from the facts above stated, that 

 there is nothing improbable in the original statement of Sir George 

 Staunton, that it may be a source of the Insect-wax of commerce. 

 That it is the sole source, as was once believed, I think is disproved 

 by the arguments which Mr. Hanbury has brought forward in favour 

 of the Coccus Pela. That it is one source, however, of the Insect- 

 wax employed for economical purposes by the Chinese, I think is 

 rendered highly probable by the following considerations: — 



" 1. We have seen that the Flata limbata secretes a waxy matter 

 in considerable quantity. 



" 2. This waxy matter resembles closely in its characters and 

 chemical relations the Chinese insect-wax of commerce. 



" 3. The Flata limbata is known to be very common in many ])arts 

 of China. 



" 4. Sir George Staunton, when travelling in Cochin China, found 

 that it was generally believed that the white matter secreted by the 

 Flata limbata formed the white wax of the East, and he adds, ' It is 

 asserted on the spot, to have the property, by a particular manipula- 

 tion, of giving in certain projjortions with vegetable oil such solidity 



